tiny

tiny — adjective

1. much smaller than the usual size, or much less than the normal amount or degree

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

much smaller than the usual size, or much less than the normal amount or degree

Example

Tamás found a tiny seashell buried in the damp sand near the shore.

tiny + noun (seashell) for physically small objects

The stray kitten's tiny paws left delicate prints in the fresh snow.

tiny + noun referring to body parts

Common collocations
  • tiny + amount / bit / fraction / percentage
  • tiny + voice / sound / whisper
  • tiny + hole / crack / opening / gap
  • tiny + apartment / room / kitchen / house
  • tiny + hand / foot / finger / nose
  • tiny + difference / change / improvement
  • tiny + creature / insect / seed / particle
Synonyms
  • small

    more neutral and general; 'tiny' is stronger and more emphatic

  • minute

    formal; suggests something so small it is difficult to see

  • miniature

    refers to a smaller copy of something that is normally larger

  • diminutive

    formal; emphasises a smaller-than-average size, often in a charming way

Antonyms
  • huge

    opposite on the size spectrum; very large

  • enormous

    suggests something shockingly large

  • vast

    used for areas, spaces, or amounts rather than small objects

Grammar Patterns

tiny + noun

be + tiny

Usage Note

Commonly modified with adverbs such as 'a little', 'quite', 'so', and 'too'. Avoid stacking with 'very' in careful writing, since 'tiny' already conveys the idea of extreme smallness.

Common Mistakes

She speaks a tiny English.
She speaks a tiny bit of English.
'Tiny' cannot directly modify an uncountable noun; use 'tiny bit of' or 'tiny amount of.'
The apartment is very tiny.
The apartment is tiny.' or 'The apartment is very small.
'Very tiny' is considered redundant because 'tiny' already means extremely small.
Idioms

the patter of tiny feet

idiom

This phrase is used to talk about having a baby or wanting children.

After their wedding, they hoped for the patter of tiny feet.

Is the patter of tiny feet in your future plans?

Word family

  • tininess
    nounC1
  • tiniest
    adjectiveA2
  • teeny
    adjectiveB1
  • teensy
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All five words describe something below average in size, but they differ in intensity and context. 'Small' is the most neutral and widely used — it simply means not large. 'Tiny' is stronger and more emphatic, suggesting something is remarkably or surprisingly small. 'Minute' (pronounced my-NOOT) is formal and often describes details or differences so small they are hard to detect. 'Miniature' refers to an exact but much smaller copy of a normally larger object, like a miniature train or a miniature painting. 'Diminutive' is formal and often carries a slightly affectionate tone, commonly used for people or body parts. For everyday speech, use 'small' for neutral size and 'tiny' when you want to stress that something is especially little.

small ↗tiny ↗minute ↗miniature ↗diminutive

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • a little tiny
  • quite tiny
  • so tiny
  • too tiny
  • relatively tiny

Phrases

  • a tiny bit
  • a tiny amount
  • a tiny fraction
  • tiny little

Etymology

uncertain originEnglish

First recorded in English in the late 1500s. The origin is uncertain, but 'tiny' may come from an older word 'tine' (very small), or it may have been formed from childish or imitative speech for something small, similar to the way 'teeny' and 'weensy' were created.