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

Families have less than a week left to apply for help with the costs of getting ready for the new school year.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

Still, Pelosi prevailed, by less than 4,000 votes out of nearly 108,000 cast.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026

One recent survey found that less than 20% of adults have detailed conversations with loved ones about care preferences.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

All of this reshuffling might matter less than it looks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

“No, just born less than a year apart.”

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows