less

1 of 5

adjective

ˈles 

comparative of little entry 1

1

: constituting a more limited number or amount

less than three

less than half done

2

: of lower rank, degree, or importance

no less a person than the president himself

3

a

: of reduced size, extent, or degree

b

: more limited in quantity

in less time

Less vs. Fewer: Usage Guide

The traditional view is that less applies to matters of degree, value, or amount and modifies collective nouns, mass nouns, or nouns denoting an abstract whole while fewer applies to matters of number and modifies plural nouns. Less has been used to modify plural nouns since the days of King Alfred and the usage, though roundly decried, appears to be increasing. Less is more likely than fewer to modify plural nouns when distances, sums of money, and a few fixed phrases are involved

less than 100 miles

an investment of less than $2000

in 25 words or less

and as likely as fewer to modify periods of time.

in less (or fewer) than four hours

less

2 of 5

adverb

comparative of little entry 2

: to a lesser extent or degree

less

3 of 5

noun

plural less

1

: a smaller portion or quantity

2

: something of less importance

less

4 of 5

preposition

: diminished by : minus

-less

5 of 5

adjective suffix

1

: destitute of : not having

witless

childless

2

: unable to be acted on or to act (in a specified way)

dauntless

fadeless

Phrases

no less

—used to emphasize that something is regarded as impressive or surprising

wants to be driven to the airport, in a limousine no less

less and less

: to a progressively smaller size or extent

less than

: by no means : not at all

less than honest in his replies

Synonyms

Adjective

• inferior
• junior
• lesser
• lower
• minor
• smaller
• subordinate

Examples of less in a Sentence

Adjective

We need less talk and more work!

She finished in less time than I did.

Less detail is sometimes better than more detail.

8 times 2 is less than 6 times 3.

We made it there in less than six hours.

The whole procedure takes less than five minutes.

The illness affects less than one percent of the population.

Adverb

This test seemed much less difficult than the last one.

Which test is the less difficult of the two?

Do you have another one that's less expensive?

She visits much less often than she used to.

They're focusing more on quality and less on quantity.

Their band is less concerned with making music than with making money.

Preposition

We earned two hundred dollars, less travel expenses.

Adjective suffix

my first painless day since leaving the hospital

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Tammy Faye, the joyful Broadway musical based on the life of the late televangelist, has set its closing date — less than a month after officially opening. —Dave Quinn, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024

Flashback: Gusto closed earlier this year after less than two years in the spot. —Jason Clayworth, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024

Adverb

Paxton was born into the church and comes across as more explicitly pious and less inherently questioning of her worldview. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024

In a common method, participants reflect on their own death, while control groups consider less threatening topics, like dental pain. —Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024

Noun

Jobless and benefit-less: What should COVID-19's economic victims do for health insurance? —Shefali Luthra, Phil Galewitz and Rachel Bluth, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2020

Hassett warned that March job lesses could be among the worst on record. —Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2020

Preposition

Get ready for a lot less facial hair on your television. —Megan Friedman, Country Living, 17 Nov. 2016

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Adverb, Noun, and Preposition

Middle English, partly from Old English lǣs, adverb & noun; partly from lǣssa, adjective; akin to Old Frisian lēs less

Adjective suffix

Middle English -les, -lesse, from Old English -lēas, from lēas devoid, false; akin to Old High German lōs loose, Old English losian to get lost — more at lose

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

1623, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing less

• care less
• could/couldn't care less
• have/share more/less in common with
• in less than no time
• less and less
• less than
• less than thrilled
• more or less
• much less
• no less
• no less than
• not a penny less/more
• nothing less than
• still less
• the less said, the better
• think less of
• will-less

Kids Definition

less

1 of 5 adjective

ˈles 

1

: being a smaller number : fewer

8 times 2 is less than 6 times 3

less than six hours

2

: of lower rank, degree, or importance

no less a person than the president

3

: not so much : being a smaller amount

we need less talk and more work

finished in less time

less

2 of 5 adverb

: not so much or so well

less difficult

liked the second book less

less

3 of 5 preposition

: minus entry 1 sense 1

the regular price less a discount

less

4 of 5 noun

plural less

1

: a smaller number or amount

we have less than before

2

: something that is poorer or less important than another

could be arrested for less

-less

5 of 5 adjective suffix

ləs

1

: not having

childless

2

: not able to be acted on or to act in a specified way

ceaseless

Etymology

Adjective suffix

Old English -lēas (suffix) "not having," from lēas "false"

Medical Definition

less, lesser

comparative of little