less
to a smaller extent, amount, or degree: less exact.
most certainly not (often preceded by much or still): He could barely pay for his own lodging, much less for that of his friend.
in any way different; other: He is nothing less than a thief.
smaller in size, amount, degree, etc.; not so large, great, or much: less money; less speed.
lower in consideration, rank, or importance: no less a person than the manager.
fewer: less than a dozen.
a smaller amount or quantity: Hundreds of soldiers arrived, but less of them remained.
something inferior or not as important: He was tortured for less.
Idioms about less
less than, by far short of being; not in the least; hardly at all: The job is less than perfect.
Origin of less
1synonym study For less
confusables note For less
Modern standard English practice does not reflect this distinction. When followed by than, less occurs at least as often as fewer in modifying plural nouns that are not units or groups, and the use of less in this construction is increasing in all varieties of English: less than eight million people; no less than 31 of the 50 states. When not followed by than, fewer is more frequent only in formal written English, and in this construction also the use of less is increasing: This year we have had less crimes, less accidents, and less fires than in any of the last five years.
Words that may be confused with less
- fewer, less (see confusables note at the current entry)
Words Nearby less
Other definitions for -less (2 of 2)
an adjective suffix meaning “without” (childless; peerless), and in adjectives derived from verbs, indicating failure or inability to perform or be performed (resistless; tireless).
Origin of -less
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use less in a sentence
Submission is less a novel of ideas than a political book, and of the most subversive kind.
Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President | Pierre Assouline | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTBack in New York, the slow pace and inward focus of her yoga practice was less fulfilling.
How Taryn Toomey’s ‘The Class’ Became New York’s Latest Fitness Craze | Lizzie Crocker | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTFor many years afterward it was a never-ending topic of conversation, and is more or less talked of even to this day.
New York’s Most Tragic Ghost Loves Minimalist Swedish Fashion | Nina Strochlic | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTNo one wants to align with less freedom at a time like this.
Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead | Luke O’Neil | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThe pulps brought new readers to serious fiction, making it less intimidating with alluring art and low prices.
In less than ten minutes, the bivouac was broken up, and our little army on the march.
He was too drowsy to hold the thought more than a moment in his mind, much less to reflect upon it.
The Wave | Algernon BlackwoodHe did believe you, more or less, and what you said fell in with his own impressions—strange impressions that they were, poor man!
Confidence | Henry JamesOne would not have wanted her white neck a mite less full or her beautiful arms more slender.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate ChopinWith childlike confidence he follows the advice of some more or less honest dealer.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James Wills
British Dictionary definitions for less (1 of 2)
/ (lɛs) /
the comparative of little (def. 1) less sugar; less spirit than before
(as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural): she has less than she needs; the less you eat, the less you want
(usually preceded by no) lower in rank or importance: no less a man than the president; St James the Less
no less informal used to indicate surprise or admiration, often sarcastic, at the preceding statement: she says she's been to Italy, no less
less of to a smaller extent or degree: we see less of John these days; less of a success than I'd hoped
the comparative of little (sense 1): she walks less than she should; less quickly; less beautiful
much less or still less used to reinforce a negative: we don't like it, still less enjoy it
think less of to have a lower opinion of
subtracting; minus: three weeks less a day
Origin of less
1usage For less
British Dictionary definitions for -less (2 of 2)
without; lacking: speechless
not able to (do something) or not able to be (done, performed, etc): countless
Origin of -less
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with less
In addition to the idiom beginning with less
- less than
also see:
- couldn't care less
- in (less than) no time
- more or less
- much less
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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