Less is often considered to be the comparative form of little1.
1. determiner
You use less to indicate that there is a smaller amount of something than before or than average. You can use 'a little', 'a lot', 'a bit', 'far', and 'much' in front of less.
People should eat less fat to reduce the risk of heart disease.
...a dishwasher that uses less water and electricity than older machines.
Less is also a pronoun.
Borrowers are striving to ease their financial position by spending less and savingmore.
Less is also a quantifier.
Last year less of the money went into high-technology companies.
The other option would be for me to own less of the house but that would be stupid.
2. phrase
You use less than before a number or amount to say that the actual number or amount is smaller than this.
Motorways actually cover less than 0.1 percent of the countryside.
Less than a half hour later he returned upstairs.
3. adverb [ADVERB adjective/adverb]
You use less to indicate that something or someone has a smaller amount of a quality than theyused to or than is average or usual.
I often think about those less fortunate than me.
Other amenities, less commonly available, include a library and exercise room.
Poverty is less of a problem now than it used to be. [+ of]
4. adverb
If you say that something is less one thing than another, you mean that it is like the second thing rather than the first.
At first sight it looked less like a capital city than a mining camp.
Trades union leadership in those days was less a career than a vocation.
5. adverb [ADVERB with verb]
If you do something less than before or less than someone else, you do it to a smaller extent or not as often.
We are eating more and exercising less.
I see less of any of my friends than I used to. [+ of]
Synonyms: to a smaller extent, little, barely, not much More Synonyms of less
6. phrase
You use the expressions still less, much less, and even less after a negative statement in order to introduce and emphasize a further statement, and to make it negative too.
[formal, emphasis]
I never talked about it, still less about her.
The boy didn't have a girlfriend, much less a wife.
7. preposition
When you are referring to amounts, you use less in front of a number or quantity to indicate that it is to be subtracted from another number or quantity already mentioned.
...Boyton Financial Services Fees: £750, less £400.
Company car drivers will pay between ten and twenty five percent, less tax.
Synonyms: minus, without, lacking, excepting More Synonyms of less
8.
See less and less
9.
See less than
10.
See no less
11.
See no less than
12. couldn't care less
13. more or less
14. nothing less than
More Synonyms of less
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 GrammarNoun phrases with several determinersMost noun phrases contain only one determiner or none at all, but if there are more,they follow a definite order. Determiners can be divided into four ... Read more
-less
(-ləs)
suffix
-less is added to nouns in order to form adjectives that indicate that someone or something does not have the thing that the noun refersto.
...drink and talk and meaningless laughter.
He is not as friendless as he appeared to be.
less in British English
(lɛs)
determiner
1.
a. the comparative of little (sense 1)
less sugar
less spirit than before
b.
(as pronoun; functioning as singular or plural)
she has less than she needs
the less you eat, the less you want
2. (usually preceded by no)
lower in rank or importance
no less a man than the president
St James the Less
3. no less
4. less of
adverb
5.
the comparative of little (sense 1)
she walks less than she should
less quickly
less beautiful
6. much less
7. think less of
preposition
8.
subtracting; minus
three weeks less a day
▶ USAGE Less should not be confused with fewer. Less refers strictly only to quantity and not to number: there is less water than before. Fewer means smaller in number: there are fewer people than before
Word origin
Old English lǣssa (adj), lǣs (adv, n)
-less in British English
suffix forming adjectives
1.
without; lacking
speechless
2.
not able to (do something) or not able to be (done, performed, etc)
countless
Word origin
Old English -lās, from lēas lacking
less in American English
(lɛs)
adjective
1. alt. compar. of
little
2.
not so much; smaller in size or amount
to drink less milk, take less time
3.
fewer
in less than 25 words
adverb
4. compar. of
little
5.
to a smaller extent
less likely to succeed
noun
6.
a smaller amount
preposition
7.
with the deduction of; minus
about $5,000, less taxes; thirty less ten is twenty
Idioms:
less and less
much less
no less a person than
▶ USAGE: although the use of less instead of fewer with plural nouns is very old, it is objected to by some, esp. immediately precedinga plural noun [less coins in his pocket]
Word origin
ME les < OE læs, adv. læssa, adj. (used as compar. of lytel, little), akin to OFris les < IE *leis- < base *lei-, to diminish, meager, > little
-less in American English
(lɪs; ləs)
1.
without, lacking
pitiless, valueless
2.
not able or apt to
relentless, tireless, reckless
3.
not able or apt to be ____ed
dauntless
Word origin
ME -les, -leas < OE -leas < leas, free, loose, akin to losian, lose
Examples of 'less' in a sentence
less
Some were social media fans while others used it less often.
The Sun (2017)
You may not have to resort to selling or setting up a company to pay less tax.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The worse the problem the less he says about it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But this was about something so much less tangible than cash.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Yet they are still less likely than men to get a salary increase when they ask.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Yet none of that makes it any less watchable.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The whole thing takes less than 15 minutes.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Some 15 per cent said texting would actually make them less likely to vote.
Computing (2010)
It may be inevitable that the less creditworthy will pay more to borrow, but this disparity is far too great.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The harder you walk, the less distance or number of steps you need to take to reap the benefits of walking.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Shopping goods are generally purchased less often.
Tom Cannon Basic Marketing. Principles and Practice (1986)
You may pay less tax if you withdraw the money as a capital gain.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The rest of the numbers were less prodigious.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Yet they say that less than a third of these people have any form of treatment.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They prefer something less awesome and more informal.
Christianity Today (2000)
Yet still it was less clean than medicine.
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
Talking about aliens and bluegrass and less important things.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Things were being done to make the songs less like pop songs.
John Harris THE LAST PARTY: Britpop, Blair and the demise of English rock (2003)
They are also much less excited about where their organisation is going.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This is much less often performed today than in the past.
Westcott, Patsy Alternative Health Care for Women (1991)
Jurors found him guilty after less than two hours of deliberation.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The journey had been covered in less than five minutes.
Jonathan Gregson BLOOD AGAINST THE SNOWS: The Tragic Story of Nepal's Royal Dynasty (2002)
We are eating out less and drinking in more.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Voters are far less sure about what should be done.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
To act more or less like a deposit account.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It typically lasts less than an hour and rarely takes longer than two hours.
Bee, Helen The Developing Child (7th edn.) (1995)
This car is less about charm than practicality.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The latter is clearly a desk job with no driving involved and would cost less to cover.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Writing in the third person is less gouging on yourself but less powerful.
The Sun (2011)
Many will receive less than this amount.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We spent less time together and things fizzled out.
The Sun (2009)
Perugia airport is a less than half an hour's drive away.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Quotations
Less is moreLudwig Mies van der Rohe
In other languages
less
British English: less /lɛs/ ADVERB
You use less to talk about a smaller amount.
It was less difficult than I expected.
American English: less
Arabic: أَقَلُ
Brazilian Portuguese: menos
Chinese: 较少地
Croatian: manje
Czech: méně
Danish: mindre
Dutch: minder
European Spanish: menos cantidad
Finnish: vähemmän
French: moins
German: weniger
Greek: λιγότερο
Italian: meno
Japanese: 少なく
Korean: 더 적은
Norwegian: mindre
Polish: bez mniej
European Portuguese: menos
Romanian: mai ușor
Russian: меньше
Latin American Spanish: menos disminución en cantidad
Swedish: mindre
Thai: น้อยกว่า
Turkish: daha az miktar olarak
Ukrainian: менший
Vietnamese: ở mức ít hơn
British English: less /lɛs/ PRONOUN
You use less to talk about a smaller amount of something.
Borrowers are spending less and saving more.
American English: less
Arabic: أَقَلْ
Brazilian Portuguese: menos
Chinese: 较少
Croatian: manji
Czech: méně
Danish: færre
Dutch: minder
European Spanish: menos
Finnish: vähemmän
French: moins
German: weniger
Greek: λιγότερος
Italian: meno
Japanese: より少量
Korean: 보다 적은 양
Norwegian: minus
Polish: mniej
European Portuguese: menos
Romanian: mai puțin
Russian: меньший
Latin American Spanish: menos comparativo
Swedish: yngre
Thai: น้อยลง
Turkish: daha az
Ukrainian: менше
Vietnamese: ít hơn
British English: less /lɛs/ ADJECTIVE
Less means a smaller amount.
I am trying to spend less money on chocolate.
American English: less
Arabic: أَقَلّ
Brazilian Portuguese: menos
Chinese: 较少的
Croatian: manje
Czech: méně
Danish: mindre
Dutch: minder
European Spanish: menos
Finnish: vähemmän
French: moindre
German: weniger
Greek: λιγότερος
Italian: meno
Japanese: より少ない
Korean: 더 적은
Norwegian: mindre
Polish: mniej
European Portuguese: menos
Romanian: mai puțin
Russian: меньший
Latin American Spanish: menos
Swedish: mindre
Thai: น้อยลง
Turkish: daha az
Ukrainian: менше
Vietnamese: ít hơn
All related terms of 'less'
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 .
less of
to a smaller extent or degree
no less
You can use no less as a way of expressing surprise or admiration at the importance of something or someone.
less than
You use less than to say that something does not have a particular quality. For example, if you describe something as less than perfect , you mean that it is not perfect at all.
much less
You use much less after a statement , often a negative one, to indicate that the statement is more true of the person, thing, or situation that you are going to mention next .
less hassle
A hassle is a situation that is difficult and involves problems, effort , or arguments with people.
less and less
You use less and less to say that something is becoming smaller all the time in degree or amount.
more or less
If something is more or less true , it is true in a general way, but is not completely true.
no less than
You use no less than before an amount to indicate that the amount is surprisingly large.
think less of
to have a lower opinion of
could care less
feel (s) the least possible degree of interest, sympathy , etc.
nothing less than
You can use nothing less than to emphasize your next words, often indicating that something seems very surprising or important.
no less a person than
a person of no lower importance , rank , etc. than
Ajax
the son of Telamon ; a Greek hero of the Trojan War who killed himself in vexation when Achilles ' armour was given to Odysseus
nonetheless
Nonetheless means the same as → nevertheless .
couldn't care less could care less
If you say that you couldn't care less about someone or something, you are emphasizing that you are not interested in them or worried about them. In American English , you can also say that you could care less , with the same meaning .
neither more nor less than
simply
for all I care
I am completely indifferent
James
Clive . 1939–2019, Australian journalist , critic and broadcaster. His books include the memoirs Unreliable Memoirs (1980) and North Face of Soho (2006) and the novel Brilliant Creatures (1983)
gill
Gills are the organs on the sides of fish and other water creatures through which they breathe .
hull
The hull of a boat or tank is the main body of it.
keel
The keel of a boat is the long, specially shaped piece of wood or steel along the bottom of it.
mail
The mail is the public service or system by which letters and parcels are collected and delivered.
meal
A meal is an occasion when people sit down and eat, usually at a regular time.
nail
A nail is a thin piece of metal with one pointed end and one flat end. You hit the flat end with a hammer in order to push the nail into something such as a wall .
tool
A tool is any instrument or simple piece of equipment that you hold in your hands and use to do a particular kind of work. For example , spades, hammers, and knives are all tools.
wall
A wall is one of the vertical sides of a building or room .
shell
The shell of a nut or egg is the hard covering which surrounds it.
skill
A skill is a type of work or activity which requires special training and knowledge .
trail
A trail is a rough path across open country or through forests .
vowel
A vowel is a sound such as the ones represented in writing by the letters 'a', 'e' 'i', ' o ' and 'u', which you pronounce with your mouth open, allowing the air to flow through it. Compare → consonant .
wheel
The wheels of a vehicle are the circular objects which are fixed underneath it and which enable it to move along the ground.
kernel
The kernel of a nut is the part that is inside the shell.
vassal
In feudal society, a vassal was a man who gave military service to a lord, in return for which he was protected by the lord and received land to live on.
victual
to supply with or obtain victuals
Chinese translation of 'less'
less
(lɛs)
adj
(noun) 更少的 (gèng shǎo de)
⇒ A shower uses less water than a bath.淋浴比盆浴用的水更少。 (Línyù bǐ pényù yòng de shuǐ gèng shǎo.)
adv
(adjective/adverb) 较(較)少地 (jiàoshǎo de)
⇒ Malaria is less common in Britain.疟疾在英国较少见。 (Nüèjí zài Yīngguó jiào shǎojiàn.)
⇒ He still eats cheese, but far less often.他还是吃奶酪，但不像以前那么频繁了。 (Tā háishì chī nǎilào, Dàn bù xiàng yǐqián nàme pínfán le.)
(verb) 较(較)少 (jiàoshǎo)
⇒ I visit him less than I should.我应该多去看他。 (Wǒ yīnggāi duō qù kàn tā.)
⇒ He goes out less than he used to.他比以前出去得少了。 (Tā bǐ yǐqián chūqù de shǎo le.)
pron
较(較)少的东(東)西 (jiàoshǎo de dōngxi)
⇒ I've got less than you.我的比你的少。 (Wǒ de bǐ nǐ de shǎo.)
prep
less tax/10% discount去掉税(稅)/10%的折扣 (qùdiào shuì/bǎi fēn zhī shí de zhékòu)
less of the money/time较(較)少的钱(錢)/时(時)间(間) (jiào shǎo de qián/shíjiān)
I see less of them now they've moved他们(們)搬家了，我与(與)他们(們)见(見)面的机(機)会(會)少了 (Tāmen bānjiā le, wǒ yǔ tāmen jiànmiàn de jīhuì shǎo le)
less than half不到一半 (bù dào yībàn)
no less than 45% of the electorate不少于(於)45%的全体(體)选(選)民 (bù shǎo yú bǎi fēn zhī sìshíwǔ de quántǐ xuǎnmín)
less than ever不比从(從)前 (bù bǐ cóngqián)
less than perfect/helpful决(決)不完美/决(決)没(沒)有帮(幫)助 (jué bù wánměi/jué méiyǒu bāngzhù)
less and less (as adj) 越来(來)越少的 (yuèláiyuè shǎo de) (as adv) 越来(來)越少地 (yuèláiyuè shǎo de)
the less he works, the more he complains他做的越少，抱怨的越多 (tā zuò de yuè shǎo, bàoyuàn de yuè duō)
the Prime Minister, no less居然是首相 (jūrán shì shǒuxiàng)
less 可以修饰不可数名词。 ... less meat ... 修饰可数名词应该使用 fewer。 ... fewer potatoes ...
All related terms of 'less'
less and less
( as adj ) 越来(來)越少的 yuèláiyuè shǎo de
more or less
( adj, adv ) 差不多 chàbuduō
less than ever
不比从(從)前 bù bǐ cóngqián
less than half
不到一半 bù dào yībàn
I couldn't care less
我才不在乎呢 wǒ cái bù zàihu ne
more/less than Paul
比保罗(羅)多/少 bǐ Bǎoluó duō/shǎo
less tax/10% discount
去掉税(稅)/10%的折扣 qùdiào shuì/bǎi fēn zhī shí de zhékòu
他们(們)搬家了，我与(與)他们(們)见(見)面的机(機)会(會)少了 Tāmen bānjiā le, wǒ yǔ tāmen jiànmiàn de jīhuì shǎo le
the less he works, the more he complains
他做的越少，抱怨的越多 tā zuò de yuè shǎo, bàoyuàn de yuè duō
the more I look at it the less I like it
我越看越不喜欢(歡) wǒ yuè kàn yuè bù xǐhuan
1 (adjective)
Definition
I am trying to eat less meat.
Synonyms
smaller
shorter
slighter
not so much
2 (adjective)
Synonyms
inferior
the inferior status of women in many societies
minor
She is known for a number of minor roles in films.
secondary
Refugee problems remained of secondary importance.
subordinate
Sixty of his subordinate officers followed his example.
(adverb)
Definition
We are eating more and exercising less.
Synonyms
to a smaller extent
little
On the way back they spoke very little.
barely
not much
not so much
meagrely
(pronoun)
Definition
minus
Motorways cover less than 0.1 per cent of the countryside.
Synonyms
a smaller amount
not as much (as)
(preposition)
Company car drivers will pay ten percent, less tax.
Synonyms
minus
without
lacking
excepting
subtracting
Usage note
Less should not be confused with fewer. Less refers strictly only to quantity and not to number: there is less water than before. Fewer means smaller in number: there are fewer people than before.
Quotation
Less is more [Ludwig Mies van der Rohe]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of little
Definition
not at all, or hardly
On the way back they spoke very little.
Synonyms
hardly,
barely,
not quite,
not much,
only just,
scarcely
in the sense of minor
Definition
not very serious or significant
She is known for a number of minor roles in films.
Synonyms
small,
lesser,
subordinate,
smaller,
light,
slight,
secondary,
petty,
inferior,
trivial,
trifling,
insignificant,
negligible,
unimportant,
paltry,
inconsequential,
inconsiderable,
nickel-and-dime (US, slang)
in the sense of secondary
Definition
below the first in rank or importance
Refugee problems remained of secondary importance.
Synonyms
subordinate,
minor,
lesser,
lower,
inferior,
unimportant,
second-rate
Synonyms of 'less'
less
Explore 'less' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of subordinate
Definition
of lesser rank or importance
Sixty of his subordinate officers followed his example.