less
lehs
Less (adj) means Smaller in amount, degree, or quantity; not as much. Example: “She earns less money than her brother.”
adj
1
Smaller in amount, degree, or quantity; not as much.
"She earns less money than her brother."
"I'd like less sugar in my coffee, please."
"We had less time than we thought, so we skipped the museum."
prep
1
Minus; with a certain amount taken away.
"The final price is the list price less any discounts."
"She took home her salary less tax and pension contributions each month."
"The total owed is the full balance less the deposit you already paid."
How to use less
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA smaller amount of something — the opposite of "more."
Common mistake
Use "less" for uncountable things (less water, less time) and "fewer" for countable things (fewer cars, fewer people). Mixing them up ("less cars") is a very common error.
Common pairings
less than
more or less
no less
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- lesses
- Past tense
- lessed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She earns _____ money than her brother.
Etymology
From Old English laessa, "smaller, fewer," a very old Germanic word unrelated to "little" or "least" in origin.
Related words
Rhymes for less
See all rhymes for less →Frequently asked questions
What does “less” mean?
The word “less” means smaller in amount, degree, or quantity; not as much. In plain terms, a smaller amount of something — the opposite of "more.".
How do you pronounce “less”?
“Less” is pronounced lehs (/lɛs/ in IPA).
How do you use “less” in a sentence?
Here is “less” used in a sentence: “She earns less money than her brother.”
What is the opposite of “less”?
The opposite of “less” — its antonyms — is plus.
What part of speech is “less”?
Depending on how it is used, “less” can be an adjective and a preposition.
Where does the word “less” come from?
The word “less” comes from Old English. From Old English laessa, "smaller, fewer," a very old Germanic word unrelated to "little" or "least" in origin.
Is “less” a common word?
“Less” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “less” have?
“Less” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: smaller in amount, degree, or quantity; not as much.
What is the difference between less and fewer?
Use 'fewer' for things you can count individually: fewer cars, fewer people, fewer mistakes. Use 'less' for amounts, mass, or degree you can't count separately: less water, less time, less money. A quick test: if the noun has a plural form, 'fewer' is usually correct.
What is the difference between less and least?
'Less' is comparative, contrasting two things: 'this bowl has less soup than that one.' 'Least' is superlative, marking the smallest of three or more: 'this bowl has the least soup of all.' Use 'less' for comparisons, 'least' for the bottom of a group.
Is '10 items or less' grammatically correct?
Strictly, no — items are countable, so purists prefer '10 items or fewer.' However, 'less' is extremely common in everyday speech and on signs, and many usage guides now accept it. In careful writing, choose 'fewer' for countable things like items.
What is the opposite of less?
The opposite of 'less' is 'more,' indicating a greater amount, degree, or quantity. Where 'less' reduces — less noise, less effort — 'more' increases things: more noise, more effort. For countable nouns, the matching pair is 'fewer' and 'more,' following the same logic.
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