Less

/lɛs/ · adverb

Meaning

comparative degree of little.

Definitions by Sense

1. comparative degree of little
2. Used for constructing syntactic diminutive comparatives of adjectives and adverbs.
3. To a smaller extent or degree.
4. (Now chiefly of numbers or dimensions) comparative form of little: more little; of inferior size, degree or extent; smaller, lesser.
5. A smaller amount of; not as much.
6. (nonstandard, proscribed) Fewer; a smaller number of.
7. Minus; not including
8. (archaic) To make less; to lessen.

Example Sentences

I slept even less last night than I did the night before.

I like him less each time I see him.

All my cares grew less until completely gone.

I corralled the judge, and we started off across the fields, in no very mild state of fear of that gentleman's wife, whose vigilance was seldom relaxed. And thus we came by a circuitous route to Mohair, the judge occupied by his own guilty thoughts, and I by others not less disturbing.

Randal is less welcome than Rachel but as her spouse we should invite them both.

This gadget is less useful than I expected.

I'm not any less happy for being on my own.

This section of space is much less empty than that between the stars, […]

Synonyms for less

Antonyms for less

Related Words

Word Forms

• lesses
• lessing
• lessed

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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