less

UK /lɛs/ US /lɛs/

verb 2prep 1adj 1noun 1conj 1

Definitions

prep

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.

verb

To make less; to lessen.

1386-90, Gower, Confessio Amantis What he will make lesse, he lesseth.

c. 1650, Patrick Gordon of Ruthven, A short Abridgement of Britane's Distemper, from the yeares of God 1639 to 1649, printed 1844 for the Spalding Club Som of the wiser sort, divining upon this vission, attrebute to the pen-knyves the lenth of tym before this should com to pass, and it hath been observed by sindrie that the earles of that hous befor wer the richest in the kingdom, having treasure and store besyde them, but ever since the addittion of this so great a revenue, they have lessed the stock by heavie burdens of debt and ingagment.

adj

Lesser; smaller.

Such too, to a greater or less extent, is the condition of the operatives of every denomination in England, which is the great workhouse of the world.

This he said, thinking that Alan would be pleased; but the Highlandman’s vanity was ready to startle at a less matter than that.

Collocations

ADJ.

better, careful, conscientious, english, fewer, greater, impatient, important

She was less careful with her money after she got the promotion.

VERB + LESS

consist, drink, make, see, speak, startle, work

I've been trying to drink less coffee since it was keeping me awake at night.

LESS + NOUN

administration, art, depth, extent, food, money, people, proportion

We spent less money on groceries this month than we did last month.

PREP.

about, in, in, than

She earned less than her colleagues despite doing the same job.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

couldn't care less

To not care at all; to have no interest or concern; to be apathetic.

I used to be so careless / As if I couldn't care less

less is more

That which is of smaller quantity could be of higher quality.

more haste, less speed

When one is in a hurry, one often ends up having less success and completing a task more slowly.

much less

Let alone; to say nothing of.

Of the thing that sustains him through trials man has no inkling, much less knowledge, at the time.

road less traveled

The less popular or less commonly taken option.

Example Bank

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.

Wiktionary

1386-90, Gower, Confessio Amantis What he will make lesse, he lesseth.

Wiktionary

The protracted term of life, and the lingering illness through which this gentleman had passed, had neither impaired the original vigour of his mind, nor lessed the uncommon warmth of his affections.

Wiktionary

Such too, to a greater or less extent, is the condition of the operatives of every denomination in England, which is the great workhouse of the world.

Wiktionary

This he said, thinking that Alan would be pleased; but the Highlandman’s vanity was ready to startle at a less matter than that.

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

i Register

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

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