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

Less than 10 years ago, Kelly, then a Fox News anchor, was gunning for a career in mainstream media.

From Slate • May 6, 2026

Less than a year later, Jackson’s former rental home was put on the market for $23.5 million and was simultaneously offered up as a rental property for the same price the singer had paid.

From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026

Less than a third of consumers expect the economy to get better in the next six months, while nearly half expect it to get worse, according to the latest Morgan Stanley poll.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

Less than a day after their comment, the airline’s spokesperson said in their statement that it is “in direct contact with the guest to arrange its personal return as quickly as possible.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

“I came from one of the other experiments—the one in Indianapolis, the one that failed. Oh, you don’t know where Indianapolis is, do you? It’s not far from here. Less than an hour by plane.”

From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth