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

Around 30% will have an increase of less than $10 to their monthly bill.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

With less than six months until the end of his term in office, Guterres flew to the divided Mediterranean island on the first visit by a UN secretary general since Ban Ki-moon's visit in 2010.

From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026

The order actually does less than it appears to.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

The survey said 41% of respondents reported having either no savings or less than one month's worth of income in savings.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

Though he flickered still in the light, he did flicker less than a ghost ought.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny