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

But with short run times and tickets averaging less than $20, Neville said it’s a good place to take a risk.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

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

On Tuesday, the Texas jury reached a guilty verdict in less than three hours.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

Meanwhile the reward for the folding shrank: The federal minimum wage, adjusted for inflation, is worth about 40% less than at its 1968 peak.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

“And in less than an hour this entire island is going to explode, unless we do something about it.”

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin