least

UK /liːst/ US /list/

adj 4det 3noun 2pron 1prep_phrase 1

Collocations

5

ADJ.

all, boiled, busy, closed, common, healthy, important, locked

The least common reason people gave for quitting their jobs was lack of benefits.

VERB + LEAST

am, chose, earns, eat, escapes, expecting, giving, grudged

I earn at least fifty thousand dollars a year in my current job.

LEAST + NOUN

choise, day, diets, happiness, hours, luck, lyeth, minutes

On weekdays, I try to eat healthy, but the least diets I follow are the strict ones.

PREP.

in, in, towards, with

At least in theory, the new system should have worked perfectly well.

ADV.

once, twice

I've visited that restaurant at least twice this month and the food is always excellent.

Definitions

adj

1

Chiefly preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little.

least common multiple

Of two ils chose the least, while choise lyeth in lot.

2

Chiefly preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little.

least weasel

The firſt is a very ſlender plant hauing a fevve ſmall leaues like the leaſt Chickvveede, grovving in little tufts, from the midſt vvhereof riſeth vp a ſmall ſtalke, nine inches long; […]

3

Chiefly preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little.

[M]ans reaſon is ſo farre off from being the meaſurer of faith, vvhich very far exceedeth nature, that it is not ſo much as the meaſurer of nature, & of the leaſt creatures vvhich lie farre vnderneath man; becauſe of the ignorance and vntovvardnes vvhich is in vs and raigneth in vs.

But if I thriue, the gaine of my attempt, / The leaſt of you, ſhall ſhare his part thereof.

4

Chiefly preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little.

det

1

Chiefly preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little.

He earns the least money in his family.

Of all the sisters, she has the least patience.

2

Chiefly preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little.

Whichever queue contains the least items by the time this logic branch is reached will be executed first.

3

Chiefly preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little.

not even the least amount

It is indicative of his true character that he could not manage to show even the least bit of courtesy in such a situation.

noun

1

Preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little; the lowest-ranking or most insignificant person or (sometimes) group of people.

even the least of

The pastor preached that even the least of God’s creatures deserves freedom from needless or idle cruelty.

2

Something of the smallest possible extent; an indivisible unit; a minimum.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

to say the least

Used to suggest an understatement.

The 9/11 attacks weren't very good for America. / To say the least!

not in the least

not at all, not in any way

in the least

At all, in the slightest, in any way.

— Are you worried? — Not in the least!

at the very least

at least; as an absolute minimum; emphatic form of at the least.

After all, if we think of the Vatican as a vast and hugely successful multinational corporation, then this interview would appear to be the equivalent of a profits warning. At the

least said, soonest mended

Hurt feelings are most quickly healed by not discussing (revisiting) the event giving rise to the hurt; keeping silent about something can avoid the problems that could be caused by mentioning it.

Example Bank

6

01

least common multiple

Wiktionary

02

Of two ils chose the least, while choise lyeth in lot.

Wiktionary

03

At the end of it [a passage], tovvards the theatre, 'tis lighted by a ſmall candle, the light of vvhich is almoſt loſt before you get half-vvay dovvn, but near the door—'tis more for ornament than uſe

Wiktionary

04

He earns the least money in his family.

Wiktionary

05

Of all the sisters, she has the least patience.

Wiktionary

06

Th' Italian Chiefs, and Princes, joyn their Povv'rs: / Nor leaſt in Number, nor in Name the laſt, / Your ovvn brave Subjects have your Cauſe embrac'd.

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, least is marked as archaic, obsolete, informal. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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