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

Meanwhile, as of March 31, Grok and Twitter had allegedly 1.3 billion global users, although less than half were active.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

It shut down less than three years later.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

Unite Here Local 11, the union representing SoFi Stadium workers, votes to authorize a strike less than a week before the venue will host a World Cup game.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

The agreement raises hourly wages for the lowest-paid workers to $40 from less than $28, according to the union.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

“Mud could reach houses less than twenty feet above the river,” he said.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone