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

"He's still got a £3,000 bill and they've sold it for 10 times less than that."

From BBC • May 19, 2026

Since then, in less than two years, there have been 11 dissents.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

If that holds, Mr. Massie could be the president’s second scalp in less than a week.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

REA’s Brazilian project in the state of Bahia is based on Ionic Adsorption Clay, which is typically a lower-grade ore, less than 1%, and better suited to heavy rare-earth metals.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

Each segment lasted less than a second, yet he clearly experienced every detail.

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret