less

1 of 5

adjective

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

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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Adjective
Topline Vice President Kamala Harris has a slight lead over former President Donald Trump, according to two new polls—but most surveys show a dead-heat contest for the White House, keeping the race wildly unpredictable less than two weeks before Election Day. Sara Dorn, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024 With less than 10 days remaining before the election, the economy has continued to line up in Vice President Kamala Harris’ favor. Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 27 Oct. 2024
Adverb
To secure favorable placement for their drugs on insurance formularies, pharmaceutical companies offer PBMs significant rebates—particularly for higher-cost, brand-name medications, even when less expensive generics or biosimilars are available. Robert Pearl, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024 The tendons might be less elastic, and thus less able to transmit force quickly. Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 28 Oct. 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 See all Example Sentences for less 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of less was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near less

Cite this Entry

“Less.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/less. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

less

1 of 5 adjective
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

More from Merriam-Webster on less

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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