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

Typical employee contribution rates to defined-contribution plans range from 5% to 6%, while employer contributions average less than 3%.

From MarketWatch • May 15, 2026

Tavneos generated $119 million in sales in the first quarter for Amgen, up 32% from a year earlier, and accounting for less than 2% of the company’s overall drug sales.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

The Sunday Times Rich List calculates that there are now 157 UK billionaires, 20 less than four years ago.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

It requires close contact of less than one meter for 30 minutes, he said, adding that hantavirus is "much less transmissible" than Covid-19 or the flu.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

And now it’s almost seven, which means her shift starts in less than ten minutes.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy