less

[ les ]

/ lɛs /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR less ON THESAURUS.COM

adverb, a comparative of little, with least as superlative.

to a smaller extent, amount, or degree: less exact.

most certainly not (often preceded by much or still): He could barely pay for his own lodging, much less for that of his friend.

in any way different; other: He is nothing less than a thief.

adjective, a comparative of little, with least as superlative.

smaller in size, amount, degree, etc.; not so large, great, or much: less money; less speed.

lower in consideration, rank, or importance: no less a person than the manager.

fewer: less than a dozen.

noun

a smaller amount or quantity: Hundreds of soldiers arrived, but less of them remained.

something inferior or not as important: He was tortured for less.

preposition

minus; without: a year less two days; six dollars less tax.

Idioms for less

less than, by far short of being; not in the least; hardly at all: The job is less than perfect.

Origin of less

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English lǣs (adverb), lǣssa (adjective); cognate with Old Frisian lês (adverb), lêssa (adjective); see least

synonym study for less

4. See small.

words often confused with less

Even though less has been used before plural nouns ( less words; less men ) since the time of King Alfred, many modern usage guides say that only fewer can be used in such contexts. Less, they say, should modify singular mass nouns ( less sugar; less money ) and singular abstract nouns ( less honesty; less love ). It should modify plural nouns only when they suggest combination into a unit, group, or aggregation: less than $50 (a sum of money); less than three miles (a unit of distance). With plural nouns specifying individuals or readily distinguishable units, the guides say that fewer is the only proper choice: fewer words; fewer men; no fewer than 31 of the 50 states.
Modern standard English practice does not reflect this distinction. When followed by than, less occurs at least as often as fewer in modifying plural nouns that are not units or groups, and the use of less in this construction is increasing in all varieties of English: less than eight million people; no less than 31 of the 50 states. When not followed by than, fewer is more frequent only in formal written English, and in this construction also the use of less is increasing: This year we have had less crimes, less accidents, and less fires than in any of the last five years.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH less

fewer, less (see confusables note at the current entry)

Definition for less (2 of 2)

-less

an adjective suffix meaning “without” (childless; peerless), and in adjectives derived from verbs, indicating failure or inability to perform or be performed (resistless; tireless).

Origin of -less

Middle English -les,Old English -lēas, special use of lēas free from, without, false; cognate with Old Norse lauss,German los,loose

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for less (1 of 2)

less

/ (lɛs) /

determiner

the comparative of little (def. 1) less sugar; less spirit than before
(as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural)she has less than she needs; the less you eat, the less you want

(usually preceded by no) lower in rank or importanceno less a man than the president; St James the Less

no less informal used to indicate surprise or admiration, often sarcastic, at the preceding statementshe says she's been to Italy, no less

less of to a smaller extent or degreewe see less of John these days; less of a success than I'd hoped

adverb

the comparative of little (sense 1)she walks less than she should; less quickly; less beautiful

much less or still less used to reinforce a negativewe don't like it, still less enjoy it

think less of to have a lower opinion of

preposition

subtracting; minusthree weeks less a day

Word Origin for less

Old English lǣssa (adj), lǣs (adv, n)

usage for less

Less should not be confused with fewer. Less refers strictly only to quantity and not to number: there is less water than before. Fewer means smaller in number: there are fewer people than before

British Dictionary definitions for less (2 of 2)

-less

suffix forming adjectives

without; lackingspeechless

not able to (do something) or not able to be (done, performed, etc)countless

Word Origin for -less

Old English -lās, from lēas lacking

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with less

less

In addition to the idiom beginning with less

less than

also see:

couldn't care less
in (less than) no time
more or less
much less

单词	less
释义	less [ les ] / lɛs / SEE SYNONYMS FOR less ON THESAURUS.COM adverb, a comparative of little, with least as superlative. to a smaller extent, amount, or degree: less exact. most certainly not (often preceded by much or still): He could barely pay for his own lodging, much less for that of his friend. in any way different; other: He is nothing less than a thief. adjective, a comparative of little, with least as superlative. smaller in size, amount, degree, etc.; not so large, great, or much: less money; less speed. lower in consideration, rank, or importance: no less a person than the manager. fewer: less than a dozen. noun a smaller amount or quantity: Hundreds of soldiers arrived, but less of them remained. something inferior or not as important: He was tortured for less. preposition minus; without: a year less two days; six dollars less tax. Idioms for less less than, by far short of being; not in the least; hardly at all: The job is less than perfect. Origin of less First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English lǣs (adverb), lǣssa (adjective); cognate with Old Frisian lês (adverb), lêssa (adjective); see least synonym study for less 4. See small. words often confused with less Even though less has been used before plural nouns ( less words; less men ) since the time of King Alfred, many modern usage guides say that only fewer can be used in such contexts. Less, they say, should modify singular mass nouns ( less sugar; less money ) and singular abstract nouns ( less honesty; less love ). It should modify plural nouns only when they suggest combination into a unit, group, or aggregation: less than $50 (a sum of money); less than three miles (a unit of distance). With plural nouns specifying individuals or readily distinguishable units, the guides say that fewer is the only proper choice: fewer words; fewer men; no fewer than 31 of the 50 states. Modern standard English practice does not reflect this distinction. When followed by than, less occurs at least as often as fewer in modifying plural nouns that are not units or groups, and the use of less in this construction is increasing in all varieties of English: less than eight million people; no less than 31 of the 50 states. When not followed by than, fewer is more frequent only in formal written English, and in this construction also the use of less is increasing: This year we have had less crimes, less accidents, and less fires than in any of the last five years. WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH less fewer, less (see confusables note at the current entry) Definition for less (2 of 2) -less an adjective suffix meaning “without” (childless; peerless), and in adjectives derived from verbs, indicating failure or inability to perform or be performed (resistless; tireless). Origin of -less Middle English -les,Old English -lēas, special use of lēas free from, without, false; cognate with Old Norse lauss,German los,loose Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020 British Dictionary definitions for less (1 of 2) less / (lɛs) / determiner the comparative of little (def. 1) less sugar; less spirit than before (as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural)she has less than she needs; the less you eat, the less you want (usually preceded by no) lower in rank or importanceno less a man than the president; St James the Less no less informal used to indicate surprise or admiration, often sarcastic, at the preceding statementshe says she's been to Italy, no less less of to a smaller extent or degreewe see less of John these days; less of a success than I'd hoped adverb the comparative of little (sense 1)she walks less than she should; less quickly; less beautiful much less or still less used to reinforce a negativewe don't like it, still less enjoy it think less of to have a lower opinion of preposition subtracting; minusthree weeks less a day Word Origin for less Old English lǣssa (adj), lǣs (adv, n) usage for less Less should not be confused with fewer. Less refers strictly only to quantity and not to number: there is less water than before. Fewer means smaller in number: there are fewer people than before British Dictionary definitions for less (2 of 2) -less suffix forming adjectives without; lackingspeechless not able to (do something) or not able to be (done, performed, etc)countless Word Origin for -less Old English -lās, from lēas lacking Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Idioms and Phrases with less less In addition to the idiom beginning with less less than also see: couldn't care less in (less than) no time more or less much less The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Words related to less fewer, limited, lower, negative, lesser, subordinate, minus, minor, secondary, beneath, deficient, depressed, lacking, reduced, shorter, unsubstantial, without, declined, diminished, excepting
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less

adverb, a comparative of little, with least as superlative.

adjective, a comparative of little, with least as superlative.

noun

preposition

Idioms for less

Origin of less

synonym study for less

words often confused with less

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH less

Definition for less (2 of 2)

Origin of -less

British Dictionary definitions for less (1 of 2)

determiner

adverb

preposition

Word Origin for less

usage for less

British Dictionary definitions for less (2 of 2)

suffix forming adjectives

Word Origin for -less

Idioms and Phrases with less

Words related to less