Word of the Day: Bit
The word “bit” is a noun that is used for an amount. A large amount is quite a bit; a small amount is a little bit or a tiny bit. A bit (all by itself) can be large or small.
- I’ll see you in a little bit. (a short time)
- Their company made quite a bit of money last year. (a large amount of money)
- She needs a bit of time to consider her decision. (some time, maybe a long time)
- “This will hurt a little bit,” said the nurse as she vaccinated her patient.
- He knows quite a bit about computers. (He knows a lot about computers.)
- They’ll need a bit of time to find new jobs.
- She’s a bit angry at her boss. (a little angry)
- I’ll have just a tiny bit of that cake–not too much.
Notice that “bit” is usually used with the article “a.”
There are a few other ways to use the word “bit.”
-
Drill bits are attached to a drill when drilling holes in wood, metal, or concrete.
- A person controls a horse through the placement of a bit that goes in the horse’s mouth. The bit is attached to the reins.
- A bit can be a short performance. He’s doing a ten-minute comedy bit.
The word “bit” is also the past tense of the verb “bite.”
| simple | past | past participle |
|---|---|---|
|
bite
|
bit
|
bitten
|
- Sarah bit into her sandwich.
- Jimmy bit his little brother.
- I accidentally bit my tongue.
Essential English Dictionary
Visit the Popular English Words Beginning with B page to see the list of all words starting with letter B. For seeing the HiCafe dictionary, visit the Popular English Words with Meaning page.
