less than

Idioms  

1. Not at all or hardly at all. For example, He had a less than favorable view of the matter, or She had a less than adequate grasp of the subject. This expression uses less in the sense of “a smaller quantity, number, or extent than is implied,” a usage dating from about a.d. 1000. The same sense appears in less than no time, a hyperbolic term for a very short time (as in Don't worry, he'll be here in less than no time) that dates from about 1800.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

less than

In England people can currently qualify for local authority financial support in a residential care home if all their assets - including their home - are worth less than £23,250.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

Twenty-six women were also instructed to consume all food within a period of less than nine hours each day.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026

The order actually does less than it appears to.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

The share of spending on so-called nanoinfluencers with less than 5,000 followers will increase to 19.9% in 2026, up from just 3.1% in 2021.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

Kate was left with little money as her husband’s estate amounted to less than two hundred pounds.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock