Less Definition & Meaning

less
adverb
  1. used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs; "less interesting"; "less expensive"; "less quickly"
  2. comparative of little; "she walks less than she should"; "he works less these days"
adjective
  1. (comparative of `little' usually used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree; "of less importance"; "less time to spend with the family"; "a shower uses less water"; "less than three years old"
  2. (usually preceded by `no') lower in quality; "no less than perfect"
  3. (nonstandard in some uses but often idiomatic with measure phrases) fewer; "less than three weeks"; "no less than 50 people attended"; "in 25 words or less"

Synonyms for less

fewer adj

(comparative of `few' used with count nouns) quantifier meaning a smaller number of; "fewer birds came this year

♫ Rhymes
inferior adj

of or characteristic of low rank or importance of low or inferior quality written or printed below and to one side of

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
lower noun

the lower of two berths move something or somebody to a lower position; "take down the vase from the shelf" set lower

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms

"Less" in song lyrics

See how less is used in real songs:

  • "as what goes up comes down never the less"
    1200 Techniques — Karma
  • "You got a body that's stickin'; some men die for less"
    2 Live Crew — With Your Badself
  • "Drinkin' n' smokin' the best, and nothin' less"
    2 Live Crew f/ KC, Freak Nasty — 2 Live Party

Words that rhyme with less

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Usage tips for "less"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "less" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for less to find words that pair well.

Use "less" in a verse

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♫ Rhymes with less 🔬 Words containing less

Frequently asked questions

What does less mean?
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs; "less interesting"; "less expensive"; "less quickly" comparative of little; "she walks less than she should"; "he works less these days" (comparative of `little' usually used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree; "of less importance"; "less time to spend with the family"; "a shower uses less water"; "less than three years old" (usually preceded by `no') lower in quality
What part of speech is less?
Less is an adverb and an adjective.
How many definitions does less have?
Less has 5 definitions across 2 parts of speech (adverb, adjective).

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