Phrase guide

a bit

adv · pron · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

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1

adv

Meaning 1

To a small extent; in a small amount.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal, not-comparable

Examples

  • Could you move that up a bit?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: somewhat

Antonyms: a lot, above a bit, absolutely, sorely, bone, abundantly, all too, but good, completely, damn, eminently, ever so, exceedingly, excessively, extremely, flipping, freaking, fucking, greatly, highly, in spades, jolly, main, mightily, murrain, passing, positively, pretty, quite, really, right, simply, somewhat, sore, specially, strongly, swith, truly, vastly, very, very much, way, way too, wicked, wickedly

2

adv

Meaning 2

Slightly; rather.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal, not-comparable

Examples

  • Isn't that hat a bit small for him?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: somewhat, a bit, a little, a little bit, a mite, a smidgen, a smidgeon, a tad, a touch, a trifle, barely, closely, faintly, hardly, imperceptibly, just, kinda, kinda sorta, kind of, low-key, marginally, mildly, modestly, nearly, only just, scarcely, slightly, sorta, sorta kinda, sort of

Antonyms: a lot, above a bit, absolutely, sorely, bone, abundantly, all too, but good, completely, damn, eminently, ever so, exceedingly, excessively, extremely, flipping, freaking, fucking, greatly, highly, in spades, jolly, main, mightily, murrain, passing, positively, pretty, quite, really, right, simply, somewhat, sore, specially, strongly, swith, truly, vastly, very, very much, way, way too, wicked, wickedly

3

adv

Meaning 3

Very.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, especially, not-comparable

Examples

  • That hat seems a bit small for him.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: somewhat, a lot, above a bit, absolutely, sorely, bone, abundantly, all too, but good, completely, damn, eminently, ever so, exceedingly, excessively, extremely, flipping, freaking, fucking, greatly, highly, in spades, jolly, main, mightily, murrain, passing, positively, pretty, quite, really, right, simply, sore, specially, strongly, swith, truly, vastly, very, very much, way, way too, wicked, wickedly

Antonyms: none provided

4

adv

Meaning 4

A lot.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, especially, not-comparable

Examples

  • It rained a bit last night.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: somewhat, a lot, above a bit, absolutely, sorely, bone, abundantly, all too, but good, completely, damn, eminently, ever so, exceedingly, excessively, extremely, flipping, freaking, fucking, greatly, highly, in spades, jolly, main, mightily, murrain, passing, positively, pretty, quite, really, right, simply, sore, specially, strongly, swith, truly, vastly, very, very much, way, way too, wicked, wickedly

Antonyms: none provided

5

pron

Meaning 5

A small amount.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Q: Care for some cake? A: Argh, you've twisted my arm — I'll have just a bit, thank you.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: a lot

6

pron

Meaning 6

A large amount.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, especially

Examples

  • Q: How much trouble did you stir up last night? A: Just a bit.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: a lot

Antonyms: none provided

7

adverb

Meaning 7

to a small degree; somewhat

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • it's a bit warm
  • felt a little better
  • a trifle smaller

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: a little, a trifle

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.