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

The NFL trade deadline is less than two weeks away, and NFC West teams have been busy making moves.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026

Getting less than 0.7 hours, or 42 minutes, of bright daytime light daily was a stronger predictor of dementia than 6 established dementia risk factors.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2026

Luke Lango, an independent technology analyst, highlighted that Microsoft was able to achieve its latest results by spending less than investors expected.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026

When McGonagle joined the team, it had "less than 1,000 subscribers and minimal views".

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

It was hard work and when they were in place, the step they provided was less than two feet high.

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret

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