itty-bitty

adjective

it·​ty-bit·​ty ˈi-tē-ˈbi-tē How to pronounce itty-bitty (audio)
variants or itsy-bitsy
: extremely small : tiny

Examples of itty-bitty in a Sentence

maddening swarms of itty-bitty insects flew around our faces
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If there’s a limit there, if those transactions are not easy, that could be one little itty-bitty piece that might help. Michael S. Schmidt, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025 These glassy encasements elevated each itty-bitty snapshot of kitschy urban ephemera (a taxi cab, a bodega coffee cup, a slice of pizza, a smiley-face plastic shopping bag) to a surprising elegance—undercut with impish humor. Marina Harss, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025 My honest review of the itty-bitty carpet cleaner that has the internet buzzing By Nashia Baker April 2, 2025 All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2025 Tin Man Can, finishing the look by adding two to four itty-bitty rhinestones to each nail. Sophia Panych, Allure, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for itty-bitty

Word History

Etymology

probably from baby talk for little bit

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of itty-bitty was in 1938

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Cite this Entry

“Itty-bitty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/itty-bitty. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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