Englishfor English speakers

less English

Meaning less meaning

What does less mean?

Definitions in simple English

less Determiner

— A smaller amount or degree. He does less of the work than she does. I want less soup. It costs less than $10. As we build new roads, these small ones will become less important. He wore a dark colour that was less likely to be seen.

less Adverb

— If you do mathx/math less than mathy/math, you do not do mathy/math as much as mathy/math. I read less than I used to. = "reading now < reading before" He works less than she does. My leg really hurts, but my arm hurts less. = "my arm hurts < my leg hurts" — If you do something less often, easily, well, etc., you do not do it as often, easily, well, etc. I go out less often than before. He plays piano less well than she does. — If you something is less likely, expensive, important, etc., it is not as likely, expensive, important, etc. This book is less expensive than that book. ="the price of this book < the price of that book" You should go out. Studying is less important.

less Preposition

— minus Seven less four is three. math7-4=3/math

less

— adverb used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs less interesting less expensive less quickly — adjective (comparative of 'little' usually used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree of less importance less time to spend with the family a shower uses less water less than three years old — adverb comparative of little she walks less than she should he works less these days — adjective (usually preceded by 'no') lower in quality no less than perfect — adjective (nonstandard in some uses but often idiomatic with measure phrases) fewer less than three weeks no less than 50 people attended in 25 words or less

Synonyms less synonyms

What other words have the same or similar meaning as less?

less English » English

fewer below smaller little lesser few without minus younger more minor least under to a lesser extent small reduce inferior inadequate in the middle decrease youngest yet weal very little the slightest the least tenuous still more still sparse short scanty scant much less lower lessened by subtraction less than lack greater furthermore further exclusive of except either deficient decreased decayed beneath after a few

Topics less topics

What do people use less to talk about?

States Quantity More

Less

What words describe something that is less than another thing in number or amount?

less fewer not as much not so much not as many not so many lower to a lesser degree to a lesser extent be in the minority fewer and fewer less and less not more than at the most
What words indicate that something is less than a particular number or amount?

less than under below lower within minus
What words indicate that there is much less of something?

much less far less far fewer way below
What words indicate that something is less in some quality than another thing?

less not as not so

States Quantity More

Decrease

What words describe something that is decreasing in number or amount?

decreasing declining falling lowering shrinking less and less fewer and fewer
What words indicate that something happens or someone does something less than before?

decreasingly lose ground become less and less get less and less

States Quantity Count

Subtract numbers

What words are used for subtraction equations?

minus subtracted from from less

States Quantity All

Almost

What words indicate that something has almost reached a particular state?

almost nearly very nearly just about practically virtually all but as good as to all intents and purposes nearing approaching near to close to verging on bordering on more or less pretty much not quite
What words indicate that something is almost finished?

almost nearly just about practically as good as more or less not quite
What words indicate that something is almost some quality (such as some color or shape)?

almost more or less practically virtually not quite
What words indicate that something is true of or has happened to almost all of something?

almost nearly practically virtually pretty well more or less just about

States

Quality

What words indicate that something has less of a quality than another thing?

less not as not so

Language and thought Emotion Feel good Interested

Indifferent

What words refer to feeling very indifferent?

not give a damn couldn't care less be past caring for all I care
What words indicate that you used to care, but don't anymore because you are hurt or angry?

be past caring for all I care not give a damn couldn't care less

Language and thought Emotion Feel good Interested

Uninterested, bored

What words refer to feeling very uninterested?

could care less couldn't care less be bored to tears be bored stiff be bored out of your mind someone's eyes glaze over

Social behavior Behavior Love

Not care

What words refer to being uncaring?

don't care not give a damn couldn't care less be past caring shrug off

States Quantity All Exact

Approximate

What words indicate that something is done in approximately the right way?

roughly more or less somewhat

Grammar Very Degree

To a smaller degree

What words indicate that something is smaller than another thing in degree?

less than lower

Examples less examples

How do I use less in a sentence?

Simple sentences

You must be less impatient.

More haste, less speed.

I'll finish the work in a week or less.

Do you have anything less expensive?

Mike earns no less than three hundred dollars a day.

Tom has less money than his brother does.

We need less talk and more action.

I paid no less than a hundred dollars for this pen.

He is more or less drunk.

He was more or less drunk.

He can't read English, much less German.

There is one less.

Though Alfred is scrupulous in fulfilling his duties at work, he is less conscientious about his obligations at home.

Try as you might, but you cannot force a belief onto someone else, much less your own self.

You are not less pretty than her.

To weep is to make less the depth of grief.

It sounds strange, but it is true none the less.

When science was less important than it is now, it was all very well to leave science to the scientists.

I cannot speak English, much less Spanish.

Less noise, please.

Do you have less expensive ones?

Do you think you could make a little less noise?

No less than 100 people attended the meeting.

One person more or less doesn't make much difference.

This drawing is less than great. He needs to do something with the line here at the back of the leg.

I was disappointed to see that my bonus was a bit less than I was expecting.

Movie subtitles

The ravages of the Black Death, the bubonic plague that had devastated Europe in the early 1 4th century, had reduced the city's population to around 40,000, less than a 20th the size of Nanjing's.

He wasn't here to impress the locals, much less to hunt giraffe.

It was competitive, certainly, but not the kind of competition that fosters innovation, much less the appetite for change.

You traveled from your sparkling lovely paradise in Ootah to tell ridiculous stories to people less fortunate to make fun of them!

It is humorous that Hollywood depicts aliens more or less the same way.

I'm probably, without knowing it, less lonely than I have been in a long time because I'm interacting with people more often than I have in many years.

I'm not sure, but whatever you folks were imagining about this magistrate, he will be less than that.

Him continuing to chase after me is a terrible decision, which makes me respect him even less.

Could you have given me any less notice?

There's, like, less than a gram in there.

An auspicious day no less.

Evan was on the Christmas float less than 90 minutes ago.

You know the funeral is in less than an hour?

But now with Jared in the mix, that seemed less important.

Less talking, more carrying me.

Look, I-I've been all messed up but I-I think I'm gonna be a lot less confused, now.

I will not reveal the terrible confessions I forced from the young lady in less than a minute.

The less said about that, the better.

Do you think that girls think less of a boy if he lets himself be kissed?

Well, you could make this table a little less wide.

Why should you be able to spend less on yourself than some women do on their rotten poodles?

I really only carry them for the benefit of the less fortunate.

It's bad enough having to play around with them in Saigon, much less have one in your house.

And in even less than one hour.

But, on a somewhat less spectacular level, in 1937 producer Hal Roach made his first of three Topper features.

Everything I hear about it makes me like it less.

I hope that you will permit me a less superficial acquaintance with you.

This magistrate here doesn't have any interest for his job as a magistrate, not even this much. I'm not sure, but whatever you folks were imagining about this magistrate, he will be less than that.

That's less than when she went to that children's hospital for the sweating she used to have.

It might give them bed bugs something less to sink their teeth into.

I'm getting married in less than two weeks, Patrick.

After inquiring about you, I find we have less in common than ever.

What this country needs is less people who drop things.

What this country needs is less ventilation and more smoke.

So you've said before, about a million times more or less.

Much less her husband.

News and current affairs

When the rich get less rich, the poor get poorer.

The consequences of 1989 ended up being less enduring than many observers, including me, would have assumed.

But even small terrorist successes are costly in terms of lives, money, and making open societies less so.

Of course, we want to continue to find ways to make ourselves less vulnerable and terrorists more so.

Even though new standards would apply to suppliers from all exporting countries, compliance costs usually vary, meaning that those less equipped to meet higher standards could suffer.

With mutual recognition, the EU and the US would accept each other's standards or conformity-assessment procedures, allowing firms to adhere to the less stringent requirements in each area.

Second, where they do consider harmonization, they could favor the less stringent of the original standards, unless there is credible evidence that it would not support the relevant regulatory objective.

He was less adept in political infighting in Israel.

I said that Pakistan would inevitably follow suit and the world would become less safe.

That makes everyone less safe.

These five pillars involve drastic choices, but they will probably require less money from Europe's taxpayers, not more.

But the collective action problem is no less daunting, and it requires urgent attention if the world's growth aspirations are to be achieved.

Individuals given the drug were less willing to sacrifice an individual to save the lives of several others.

And it is doubtful that we really care enough about others, or give enough to the less fortunate.

We can only hope that, in the end, the consequences of 2009 similarly prove to be far less dramatic than we now - intuitively and in our historical reflexes - feel them to be.

What, then, will a future risk assessment look like if significantly less organized and developed countries begin - with the active assistance of the nuclear powers - to acquire civilian nuclear-energy capabilities?

The result is a grain yield (for example, maize) that is roughly one-third less than what could be achieved with better farm inputs.

There is now widespread agreement on the need for increased donor financing for small farmers (those with two hectares or less of land, or impoverished pastoralists), which is especially urgent in Africa.

With the euro looking less appetizing as a diversification play away from the dollar, gold's appeal has naturally grown.

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