Least is often considered to be the superlative form of little1.
1.
See at least
2.
See at least
3.
See at least
4.
See at least
5. adjective
You use the least to mean a smaller amount than anyone or anything else, or the smallest amount possible.
I try to offend the least amount of people possible.
If you like cheese, go for the ones with the least fat.
Synonyms: smallest, meanest, fewest, minutest More Synonyms of least
Least is also a pronoun.
On education funding, Japan performs best but spends the least per student.
Least is also an adverb.
Damming the river may end up benefitting those who need it the least.
6. adverb [ADVERB adjective/adverb]
You use least to indicate that someone or something has less of a particular quality than most other thingsof its kind.
He is the youngest and least experienced player in the team.
He was one of the least warm human beings I had ever met.
...the least technically accomplished car in Europe.
7. adjective
You use the least to emphasize the smallness of something, especially when it hardly exists at all.
[emphasis]
I don't have the least idea of what you're talking about.
They neglect their duty at the least hint of fun elsewhere.
The bosses paid less than they had promised and at the least complaint went to thepolice.
8. adverb [ADVERB with verb]
You use least to indicate that something is true or happens to a smaller degree or extent than anything else or at any other time.
He had a way of throwing her off guard with his charm when she least expected it.
9. adjective
You use least in structures where you are emphasizing that a particular situation or event is much less important or serious than other possible or actual ones.
[emphasis]
Having to get up at three o'clock every morning was the least of her worries. [+ of]
Although three days isn't very long, shortage of time was the least of his problems.
At that moment, they were among the least of the concerns of the government. [+ of]
10. pronoun
You use the least in structures where you are stating the minimum that should be done in a situation, and suggesting that more should really be done.
Well, the least you can do, if you won't help me yourself, is to tell me where togo instead.
The least they could have given me was half a day to rest.
The least his hotel could do is provide a little privacy.
See the least I could/can do
11.
See in the least
12.
See last but not least
13.
See least of all
14.
See not least
15.
See to say the least
English Easy Learning GrammarComparisonThe comparative form of an adjective is commonly used to compare two people, things,or states, when you want to say that one thing has a larger or smaller ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarDeterminersDeterminers are words that make the reference of nouns more specific. If I say ‘thiscar’ it is clear that I mean a particular car which is near me. If ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarQuantifiersQuantifiers are used to indicate the amount or quantity of something referred to bya noun. They are different from numbers because they indicate an approximate ... Read more
least in British English
(liːst)
determiner
1. the least
2. at least
3. at the least
4. in the least
adverb
5. the least
adjective
6.
of very little importance or rank
Word origin
Old English lǣst, superlative of lǣssaless
least in American English
(list)
adjective
1. alt. superl. of
little
2.
smallest or slightest in size, degree, importance, etc.
the least movement
3. Biology
very small
used in names of species or varieties
least flycatcher
adverb
4. superl. of
little
5.
in the smallest degree
noun
6.
the smallest in size, amount, importance, etc.
Idioms:
at (the) least
not in the least
Word origin
ME lest < OE læsest, læst, superl. of læssa, less
More idioms containing
least
least said, soonest mended
Examples of 'least' in a sentence
least
Yet at least we know about that.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
At least it ended a run of four straight defeats in front of their own fans.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And always pay off at least the minimum amount each month.
The Sun (2017)
The question is asking how many different numbers contain at least one three.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They had at least one thing in common.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
He is also tested at least four times a month.
The Sun (2016)
They sent out an email appeal saying at least half its team of four plus one reserve should not be men.
The Sun (2016)
For the time being at least.
The Sun (2016)
Reducing the cost of capital should, at the very least, help to protect those returns in the face of imported inflation.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Lisbon is fully funded until at least the end of this year.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This will at least help to distinguish elite meetings on the most important day of the week.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This is the group that we saw the least amount of engagement in.
Christianity Today (2000)
Try to exercise at least three times a week.
Westcott, Patsy Alternative Health Care for Women (1991)
You must commit to at least four hours a week.
The Sun (2014)
But at least the company also flew out my wife and daughter.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It will go into administration and at least half the workforce will be fired on the spot.
The Sun (2009)
Or at least a small part of it.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The majority of people work at least one day a week at home.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It is possible that at least one diocese will disappear.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
English football is at least thinking hard about the problem.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
At least the night ended in splendour.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
That at least would help identify a search area.
The Sun (2014)
The minimum amount is at least half an hour of vigorous exercise three times a week.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But she demanded at least ten times their offer.
The Sun (2009)
Such a programme takes time and the eight projects are expected to take at least three years.
Youngson, Dr. Robert The Antioxidant Health Plan (1994)
Tough times await, to say the least.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That's an unstable situation for at least two months.
The Sun (2016)
Yet here they are, profiting from price controls without the least bit of humility.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
least
British English: least /liːst/ ADJECTIVE
You use the least to mean a smaller amount than any other thing or person, or the smallest amount possible.
He wants to spend the least money possible on a bike.
American English: least
Arabic: الأَقَلُ
Brazilian Portuguese: menos
Chinese: 最小的
Croatian: najmanje
Czech: nejmenší
Danish: sidst
Dutch: kleinste
European Spanish: más mínimo
Finnish: vähäisin
French: minimum
German: geringster
Greek: ελάχιστος
Italian: minimo
Japanese: 最も少ない
Korean: 최소의
Norwegian: minst
Polish: najmniejszy
European Portuguese: menos
Romanian: cel mai puțin
Russian: наименьший
Latin American Spanish: más mínimo
Swedish: minst
Thai: น้อยที่สุด
Turkish: en az
Ukrainian: найменший
Vietnamese: tối thiểu
All related terms of 'least'
little
You use little to indicate that there is only a very small amount of something. You can use 'so', 'too', and 'very' in front of little .
at least
You use at least to say that a number or amount is the smallest that is possible or likely and that the actual number or amount may be greater . The forms at the least and at the very least are also used.
not least
You can use not least to emphasize a particularly important example or reason .
the least
( as pronoun; functioning as singular )
least-worst
bad but better than any available alternative
least squares
a method for determining the best value of an unknown quantity relating one or more sets of observations or measurements , esp to find a curve that best fits a set of data . It states that the sum of the squares of the deviations of the experimentally determined value from its optimum value should be a minimum
least weasel
a weasel , Mustela nivalis , of northern regions, that grows to a length of about 6 in. (15 cm)
at the least
at the minimum
in the least
You can use in the least and the least bit to emphasize a negative .
least of all
You can use least of all after a negative statement to emphasize that it applies especially to the person or thing mentioned .
least flycatcher
a small, gray tyrant flycatcher ( Empidonax minimus ) common in N North America
not in the least
not at all
to say the least
You can use to say the least to suggest that a situation is actually much more extreme or serious than you say it is.
last but not least
You use last but not least to say that the last person or thing to be mentioned is as important as all the others.
least common multiple
the smallest positive whole number that is exactly divisible by two or more given whole numbers
least common denominator
the least common multiple of the denominators of two or more fractions
line of least resistance
the easiest , but not necessarily the best or most honourable , course of action
principle of least action
the principle that motion between any two points in a conservative dynamical system is such that the action has a minimum value with respect to all paths between the points that correspond to the same energy
least said, soonest mended
said to mean that it is a good idea to say very little, because you might upset someone or make a situation worse if you say too much
the least I could/can do
You use expressions like ' that's the least that I can do ' to mean that you are very willing to do it, or to acknowledge someone's thanks .
the line of least resistance
If you take the line of least resistance in a situation , you do what is easiest , even though you think that it may not be the right thing to do. In American English, you usually talk about the path of least resistance .
the Maupertuis principle
the principle that motion between any two points in a conservative dynamical system is such that the action has a minimum value with respect to all paths between the points that correspond to the same energy
lcm
lowest common multiple
lowest common multiple
the smallest number or quantity that is exactly divisible by each member of a set of numbers or quantities
lcd
An LCD is a display of information on a screen , which uses liquid crystals that become visible when electricity is passed through them. LCD is an abbreviation for 'liquid crystal display'.
lowest common denominator
If you describe a plan or policy as the lowest common denominator , you are critical of it because it has been deliberately made too simple so that nobody will disagree .
Chinese translation of 'least'
least
(liːst)
adj
(noun) 最少的 (zuì shǎo de)
⇒ the area where there is least unemployment失业率最低的地区 (shīyelǜ zuì dī de dìqū)
adv
(adjective)
the least expensive/attractive/interesting最便宜/没(沒)有魅力/没(沒)趣的 (zuì piányi/méiyǒu mèilì/méiqù de)
⇒ the least interesting of all his theories他所有理论中最没趣的 (tā suǒyǒu lǐlùn zhōng zuì méiqù de)
(verb) 最不 (zuì bù)
⇒ He came out when I least expected it.在我最意想不到的时候，他出现了。 (Zài wǒ zuì yìxiǎng bù dào de shíhou, tā chūxiàn le.)
⇒ those who need help the least最不需要帮助的那些人 (zuì bù xūyào bāngzhù de nàxiē rén)
pron
the least最少 (zuìshǎo)
⇒ the gap between those earning the most and those earning the least收入最多的人与收入最少的人之间的差距 (shōurù zuì duō de rén yǔ shōurù zuì shǎo de rén zhījiān de chājù)
at least (in expressions of quantity, comparisons) 至少 (zhìshǎo)
⇒ I must have slept twelve hours at least.我一定至少睡了12个小时。 (Wǒ yīdìng zhìshǎo shuìle shí'èr gè xiǎoshí.)
(= still) 无(無)论(論)如何 (wúlùn rúhé)
⇒ It looks difficult but at least it is not dangerous.看起来很困难，但无论如何没有什么危险。 (Kàn qǐlái hěn kùnnan, dàn wúlùn rúhé méiyǒu shénme wēixiǎn.)
(= or rather) 起码(碼) (qǐmǎ)
⇒ I spotted my ex-wife; at least I thought I did.我看见我前妻了；起码我认为是的。 (Wǒ kànjiàn wǒ qiánqī le;qǐmǎ wǒ rènwéi shì de.)
(= at the very minimum) 至少 (zhìshǎo)
⇒ You could at least have written.你至少应该写信吧。 (Nǐ zhìshǎo yīnggāi xiěxìn ba.)
not in the least一点(點)也不 (yīdiǎn yě bù)
it was the least I could do是我力所能及的 (shì wǒ lì suǒ néng jí de)
not least because尤其是因为(為) (yóuqí shì yīnwèi)
to say the least至少可以说(說) (zhìshǎo kěyǐ shuō)
least of all尤其 (yóuqí)
All related terms of 'least'
at least
( in expressions of quantity, comparisons ) 至少 zhìshǎo ⇒ I must have slept twelve hours at least. → 我一定至少睡了12个小时。 Wǒ yīdìng zhìshǎo shuìle shí'èr gè xiǎoshí.
the least
最少 zuìshǎo ⇒ the gap between those earning the most and those earning the least → 收入最多的人与收入最少的人之间的差距 shōurù zuì duō de rén yǔ shōurù zuì shǎo de rén zhījiān de chājù
least of all
尤其 yóuqí
not in the least
一点(點)也不 yīdiǎn yě bù
not least because
尤其是因为(為) yóuqí shì yīnwèi
to say the least
至少可以说(說) zhìshǎo kěyǐ shuō
at the very least
至少 zhìshǎo
last but not least
最后(後)一个(個)，但不是不重要的 zuìhòu yī gè, dàn bù shì bù zhòngyào de
it was the least I could do
是我力所能及的 shì wǒ lì suǒ néng jí de
you could at least be polite!
你至少可以礼(禮)貌点(點)儿(兒)！ nǐ zhìshǎo kěyǐ lǐmào diǎnr!
the least expensive/attractive/interesting
最便宜/没(沒)有魅力/没(沒)趣的 zuì piányi/méiyǒu mèilì/méiqù de ⇒ the least interesting of all his theories → 他所有理论中最没趣的 tā suǒyǒu lǐlùn zhōng zuì méiqù de
(adjective)
Definition
smallest
If you like cheese, go for the ones with the least fat.