more or less
Idioms-
Approximately, as in The truck will hold nine yards of dirt, more or less . This usage was first recorded in 1589.
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Basically, essentially, as in We more or less agree on the substance of the letter . This usage was first recorded about 1225.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
One point and Scotland are more or less guaranteed a place in the knockouts.
From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026
We more or less exist at their pleasure with our full-catalog model.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026
It’s all about his ego, nothing more or less.
From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026
"He has more or less the same level of support in the polls as Petro did four years ago, so it's not impossible either," he added.
From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026
At first, everything stayed more or less the same.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
