less Meaning & Definition
What Does Less Mean?
Less is used as an adverb meaning To a smaller extent or degree. It can also mean Functioning as a comparative of little. As a determiner, it means A smaller amount of; not as much; comparative form of little: more little. As a preposition, it means Minus; not including.
Quick Facts About Less
| Part of speech | adverb, determiner, preposition, verb, adjective, noun, conjunction |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //lɛs// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | inferior, lower and fewer |
| Antonyms | to a greater extent, more and plus |
| Verb forms | lesses, lessing, lessed |
Less Definition (Adverb)
- To a smaller extent or degree.
The supposed benefit is actually less a benefit and more a drawback.
- Functioning as a comparative of little.
I slept little last night, but even less the night before.
- Used for constructing syntactic diminutive comparatives of adjectives and adverbs.
This gadget is less useful than I expected.
Less as a Determiner
- A smaller amount of; not as much; comparative form of little: more little.
I prefer it with less sugar.
- Fewer; a smaller number of.
There are less people here now.
Less as a Preposition
- Minus; not including
It should then tax all of that as personal income, less the proportion of the car's annual mileage demonstrably clocked up on company business.
Less as a Verb
- To make less; to lessen.
Less as an Adjective
- Smaller in size, extent, degree, importance, worth, etc.
- Used attributively, where lesser would now be used instead.
Less as a Noun
- A smaller amount or quantity.
Less is better, because less is more.
- Something of lower importance or severity.
Less as a Conjunction
- Unless.
Verb
- Pronunciation spelling or misspelling of let's.
Synonyms of Less
Less synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Less
Less in a Sentence
The supposed benefit is actually less a benefit and more a drawback.
I slept little last night, but even less the night before.
This gadget is less useful than I expected.
I'm not any less happy for being on my own.
Please do your work a little less hurriedly.
I prefer it with less sugar.
I have less tea than coffee.
There is (even) less water left now.
You have even less sense than an inanimate object.
There are less people here now.
Now there are three less green bottles hanging on the wall.
The express checkout lane is for those with ten items or less, and I have less than ten items.
I saw less than a dozen people.
It should then tax all of that as personal income, less the proportion of the car's annual mileage demonstrably clocked up on company business.
Total: $500, less $50 expenses.
I earned $45,000 last year, less tax and insurance.
All my cares grew less until completely gone.
Three is less than four.
24 is sort-of like 25, but less.
No less a person than the queen replied.
Less is better, because less is more.
I have less to do today than yesterday.
Last month less of my salary was taken up with household expenses, but I still want to pay less in taxes.
I think there's less of a problem in that regard.
I like him less each time I see him.
Word Forms & Grammar
less (not comparable)
less
less (third-person singular simple present lesses, present participle lessing, simple past and past participle lessed)
less (uncountable)
Words That Rhyme With Less
Origin of Less
Origin 1: Adverb from Middle English les, lesse, leasse, lasse, from Old English lǣs (“smaller, less”), from Proto-Germanic *laisiz, from Proto-Indo-European *leys- (“to shrink, grow thin, be gentle”).(Can this(+) etymology be sourced?) Cognate with Old Frisian lēs (“less”), Old Saxon lēs (“less”). According to Kroonen (2013), from a northern Indo-European root Proto-Indo-European *leh₂is- or *leh₃is-, which he connects to Lithuanian liesas (“lean”).
Origin 2: Determiner and preposition from Middle English lees, lesse, leasse, lasse, from Old English lǣssa (“less”), from Proto-Germanic *laisizan-, from Proto-Germanic *laisiz (“smaller, lesser, fewer, lower”) (see above). Cognate with Old Frisian lessa (“less”).
Origin 3: Verb from Middle English lessen, from the determiner.
Origin 4: Noun from Middle English lesse, from the determiner.
How Do You Say Less?
Less is pronounced //lɛs// and has 1 syllable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Less
Is less an adverb or a determiner?
Less is mainly used as an adverb, but it can also be used as a determiner, a preposition, a verb, an adjective, a noun and a conjunction.
What is another word for less?
You can replace less with words such as inferior, lower and fewer. See the full list of less synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of less?
The opposite of less can be expressed with words like to a greater extent, more and plus.
What is the past tense of less?
The past tense of less is lessed. The present participle is lessing.