less
less — noun
1. a smaller amount or quantity of something, especially when comparing it with a l
a smaller amount or quantity of something, especially when comparing it with a larger amount
Élise ate less than her brother at dinner, so she was still hungry afterwards.
comparative: less than + noun phrase
The supermarket charges less for vegetables when they are in season.
Rohan paid less for his used car than Tomás paid for his new one.
comparative structure: less for X than Y for Z
Mizuki spent less on concert tickets this year than she spent last year.
If you eat less, your body will feel lighter and more energetic.
conditional: if + subject + verb + less
- much less
- far less
- even less
- a lot less
- no less than
- spend less
- pay less
- eat less
- cost less
- smaller amount
more explicit; used when the quantity is countable or uncountable in a neutral way
- lesser quantity
more formal, often used in written or technical contexts
- more
general opposite when referring to quantity or degree
Grammar Patterns
less + of + noun phrase
less than + noun phrase
Usage Note
Uncountable noun; never used with an indefinite article. When comparing countable items, 'fewer' is traditionally preferred over 'less'.
Common Mistakes
2. something that is not as important, serious, or valuable as other matters — used
something that is not as important, serious, or valuable as other matters — used to contrast higher-priority subjects with lower-priority ones
The committee dealt with urgent matters first and saved the less important items for the next meeting.
the + less important + noun — contrastive priority ordering
Gabriel thinks major projects need attention first and the less important matters can wait.
In a crisis the greater problems should come before the less urgent ones.
contrastive: the greater vs. the less urgent
Amira tackles the hardest jobs first and saves the less urgent tasks for later.
- the greater and the less
- the less matters
- the less can wait
- before the less
- after the less
- lesser things
more colloquial; common in everyday speech
- minor matters
explicitly about low priority; used in planning contexts
- more important matters
formal phrase for higher-priority items
Grammar Patterns
the + less + verb (singular)
nothing + less + than
Usage Note
Typically preceded by 'the' and followed by a singular verb. This sense appears most often in formal or written contexts where a contrast is drawn between major and minor matters.
Common Mistakes
less is more
idiomused to express the idea that a simple, minimal approach produces a better result than a complicated or decorated one
When decorating a room, remember that less is more — too much furniture makes the space feel crowded.
less — adjective
1. a smaller amount of something that cannot be counted — used before nouns such as
a smaller amount of something that cannot be counted — used before nouns such as sugar, time, or money to show that there is not as much of that thing as before or as expected.
Adina used less sugar in the cake than the recipe called for.
less + uncountable noun (sugar)
If you spend less time on games, you will have more time for homework.
The restaurant bought less beef this week because fewer guests ordered steak.
less + uncountable noun (beef); contrast with fewer
Minh used less salt after the doctor warned him about his blood pressure.
- less money
- less time
- less sugar
- less salt
- less effort
- less energy
- more
greater in amount
Grammar Patterns
less + [uncountable noun]
Usage Note
Frequently used as a comparative before uncountable (mass) nouns. In formal English, 'fewer' is preferred for countable plural nouns.
Common Mistakes
2. of a lower rank, status, or level of worth compared to others — used to describe
of a lower rank, status, or level of worth compared to others — used to describe people, tasks, or things that are not as important as something else.
The manager put aside less important tasks to deal with the urgent complaint first.
less + adjective + noun (less important tasks)
No less a person than the university president came to speak at the graduation.
pattern: no less a/an + noun
Baraka chose a less stressful position at the clinic so he could recover properly.
less + adjective + noun (less stressful position)
Ayesha delegated less urgent emails to her assistant while she was at the conference.
- less important
- less significant
- no less a person
- less demanding
- less stressful
- less urgent
- greater
of higher rank or importance
Grammar Patterns
less + [adjective] + [noun]
no less a/an + [noun]
Usage Note
Common in fixed expressions like 'no less a person than' to emphasise unexpectedly high status. The adjectives that follow 'less' in this sense are typically abstract (important, demanding, stressful, urgent).
Common Mistakes
3. smaller in amount, strength, or frequency — describing a noun that has decreased
smaller in amount, strength, or frequency — describing a noun that has decreased relative to an earlier state or baseline (e.g., less traffic, less noise, less risk).
The new road brought less traffic through the village during the morning rush.
less + uncountable noun (traffic)
Christopher turned down the heating because less warmth was needed on the sunny afternoon.
Ramón bought a car that uses less petrol than his old one did.
less + uncountable noun (petrol/fuel)
The doctor said the new treatment carried less risk of side effects for older patients.
- less traffic
- less heat
- less noise
- less risk
- less fuel
- less damage
- greater
larger in size or degree
Grammar Patterns
less + [uncountable noun of degree/measure]
Usage Note
Describes a reduction in degree, intensity, or extent rather than countable quantity. Often paired with nouns like traffic, heat, noise, risk, fuel, and damage.
Common Mistakes
4. used informally before countable nouns and numbers, meaning the same as 'fewer'.
used informally before countable nouns and numbers, meaning the same as 'fewer'.
There were less than fifty guests at the wedding because of the snowstorm.
less than + [number] (measure phrase)
The recipe says to use less eggs if you are making a smaller cake.
less + countable noun (eggs) — informal usage
Dylan paid less than twenty dollars for the train ticket to the city.
The team scored less goals this season than they did last year.
- less than ten
- less people
- less items
- less dollars
- less goals
- less than a mile
Grammar Patterns
less + [countable noun]
less than + [number] + [countable noun]
Usage Note
Widely heard in everyday speech and with expressions of time, distance, and money (less than ten minutes, less than a mile), where it sounds natural. However, prescriptive grammar rules prefer 'fewer' with countable nouns in formal or academic writing.
Common Mistakes
less — adverb
1. used when comparing people, things, or actions to show that a quality is present
used when comparing people, things, or actions to show that a quality is present to a smaller degree or that an action happens with less strength or frequency
This jacket is less expensive than the one we saw yesterday.
less + adjective — comparing two items
Tendai eats less sugar now after visiting the doctor last month.
The second hospital was less crowded, so we went there instead.
less + adjective — choosing between two options
Niran's phone costs less than mine but takes better pictures.
It rains less often in Taipei during the winter months.
less + adverb — comparing frequency
- much less
- far less
- even less
- a lot less
- less than
- more or less
- less so
- not as...as
periphrastic comparative structure; more common in conversational English (e.g. 'not as expensive as')
- to a smaller degree
more formal register, often used in academic or analytical writing
- more
direct opposite; marks a greater degree, extent, or amount
Grammar Patterns
less + adjective/adverb/verb (+ than + object of comparison)
Usage Note
Frequently placed before adjectives, adverbs, and certain verbs to form comparative structures. Common intensifiers include 'much', 'far', and 'even' (much less expensive, far less often, even less sugar). In formal writing, 'fewer' is preferred over 'less' before plural countable nouns (fewer people, not less people).
Common Mistakes
less — determiner / pronoun
1. A smaller quantity or amount of something when compared with a previous amount o
A smaller quantity or amount of something when compared with a previous amount or with what is usual.
The doctor advised Beatrix to eat less sugar for her health.
less + uncountable noun (sugar)
Antonia drinks less coffee after switching to green tea in the mornings.
If you use less salt when cooking, your food will still taste delicious.
Since the factory closed last year, there has been far less traffic in town.
far less + uncountable noun for emphasis
Rohan thinks families should spend less money on things they do not truly need.
- less money
- less time
- less sugar
- less traffic
- less salt
- far less
- much less
- a smaller amount of
more explicit phrasing
- not as much
less formal than 'less'
- more
indicates a larger quantity
Grammar Patterns
less + uncountable noun
Usage Note
Used only with uncountable nouns (water, time, money, traffic). With countable nouns, use 'fewer' instead, though 'less' is common in informal speech.
Common Mistakes
2. Describing a situation in which the amount, size, or frequency of something keep
Describing a situation in which the amount, size, or frequency of something keeps getting smaller over time.
With each passing month, Minh heard less and less from his college friends.
less and less + from [someone] — decreasing contact
As the train pulled away, the station became less and less visible in the distance.
The noise from the party became less and less as the neighbours went to bed.
Since Sari started her new job, she has had less and less time for reading.
less and less + noun phrase
- less and less time
- less and less money
- less and less often
- less and less interest
- decreasingly
more formal; used as an adverb
- progressively less
emphasises step-by-step reduction
- more and more
indicates continuing increase
Grammar Patterns
less and less
Usage Note
Commonly takes the pattern 'less and less + noun' or 'become/get + less and less + adjective'. The repeated structure emphasises a continuing downward trend.
Common Mistakes
3. The idea that a simple approach containing only the most necessary items or elem
The idea that a simple approach containing only the most necessary items or elements produces better results than a complicated one with many extras.
Hana believes that less is more when decorating a small bedroom.
The art teacher told Trang that less is more in good logo design.
fixed expression: less is more
Karim applies the less-is-more rule by using only the freshest ingredients.
Yasmin keeps her wardrobe simple because she believes less is more.
- less is more
- less-is-more approach
- less-is-more philosophy
- simplicity is best
paraphrase of the same idea
- keep it simple
imperative form, less formal
Grammar Patterns
less is more
Usage Note
Used as a fixed expression or proverb. Often appears in discussions of design, fashion, cooking, or lifestyle choices.
4. Used before a period of time to highlight that the duration is surprisingly shor
Used before a period of time to highlight that the duration is surprisingly short given what was achieved or happened during it.
The package arrived in less than two days, which surprised everyone at the office.
less than + [time period] for surprise at short duration
Kofi learned to play the guitar well in less than six months of practice.
The chef prepared a full meal for ten people in less than one hour.
Beatrix read the entire novel in less than a week during her holiday.
- less than a week
- less than an hour
- less than a month
- less than two days
- in less than
- more than
indicates a longer time period
Grammar Patterns
less than + [time period]
Usage Note
Typically followed by a time period (a week, two days, six months, an hour). The smaller the time, the more impressive the achievement sounds.
Common Mistakes
5. Used before a number or amount to emphasise that it is surprisingly large or imp
Used before a number or amount to emphasise that it is surprisingly large or impressive.
No less than fifty guests came to celebrate Christopher's graduation party.
no less than + [number] for emphasis on large quantity
The museum received no less than eight thousand visitors on opening day.
Nikhil has written no less than six articles about climate change this year.
No less than two hundred volunteers helped clean the beach after the storm.
- no less than
- no less than [number]
- no less than [amount]
- as many as
similar emphasis on large quantity, slightly less dramatic
- up to
indicates a maximum, less emphatic
Grammar Patterns
no less than + [number]
Usage Note
The phrase 'no less than' always goes directly before a number or amount. It is the opposite in meaning of 'only' — it emphasises a large number, not a small one.
Common Mistakes
❌ 'No less than 10 people showed up.' (when 10 is a small number) — 'no less than' is for emphasising large numbers; use 'only' for small numbers.
less and less
idiomContinuously decreasing in amount or frequency over time.
Maya visits her grandparents less and less each year.
Why do you eat less and less at dinner?
less is more
idiomHaving fewer things can make something better or more effective.
For a clean look, remember that less is more.
Diego believes less is more in his minimalist apartment.
no less
idiomUsed to show that something is surprising or important.
Brian won the science award, no less.
Sara is dating a movie star, no less.
no less than…
idiomUsed to emphasize that an amount is surprisingly large.
Aiden spent no less than five hours on homework.
The charity raised no less than ten thousand dollars.
less — determiner
1. used before an uncountable noun to show that someone or something has a smaller
used before an uncountable noun to show that someone or something has a smaller quantity than another person, thing, or situation
Tamar added less salt to the soup than the recipe required.
determiner + uncountable noun + comparative 'than'
Brian now spends less time on social media than he did last year.
With less traffic on the road, Olivia reached the airport in thirty minutes.
determiner + uncountable noun (no comparison)
Leo eats less meat after learning about sustainable diets.
Apinya had less money after paying the rent.
- less time
- less money
- less traffic
- less interest
- less energy
- a smaller amount of
paraphrase; 'less' is shorter and more natural in everyday use
- more
direct opposite in quantity comparisons
Grammar Patterns
less + uncountable noun (+ than + noun phrase)
less + countable noun in quantity expressions ('less than two miles')
Usage Note
Frequently used in comparative structures with 'than' to contrast quantities. This determiner sense applies only before a noun — do not confuse with the adverb sense where 'less' modifies an adjective or verb.
Common Mistakes
2. placed before 'of' to show that the expected good quality of a person or thing i
placed before 'of' to show that the expected good quality of a person or thing is missing or reduced
The hotel was less of a bargain than the website suggested.
less of a + noun + comparative 'than'
Zuri found the training course less of a help than she expected.
The move to a new city was less of an adventure than Felix hoped.
less of a/an + noun
The meeting was less of a success because of the technical problems.
- less of a problem
- less of a success
- less of a help
- less of a challenge
- less of a risk
- not much of a
more informal; similar meaning but stronger negative tone
- more of a
opposite meaning; suggests stronger possession of the quality
Grammar Patterns
less of a + singular countable noun
less of + plural / uncountable noun
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 uses 'less of' to comment on the quality or character of something, whereas sense 1 measures amount. 'Less of a' cannot be replaced with 'fewer of a'.
Common Mistakes
3. used to describe something that decreases in amount, degree, or frequency gradua
used to describe something that decreases in amount, degree, or frequency gradually over a period of time
As the weeks passed, Yuki had less and less interest in the project.
less and less + uncountable noun
Christopher found less and less time to practise the piano.
The old lighthouse receives less and less funding every year.
less and less + noun + time adverbial
Sivan noticed that there was less and less snow on the mountain each winter.
- less and less time
- less and less interest
- less and less money
- less and less energy
- less and less often
- decreasingly
formal adverb; less common in everyday speech
- a dwindling amount of
more literary; implies the decrease is concerning
- more and more
opposite pattern indicating gradual increase
Grammar Patterns
less and less + uncountable noun
less and less + adjective/adverb
Usage Note
This is a fixed expression that must always repeat 'less'. The pattern signals a continuous decline; using 'less' only once would not convey the same gradual sense.
less — preposition
1. used to show that a particular amount is subtracted from a total — for example,
used to show that a particular amount is subtracted from a total — for example, stating a price after a discount, a salary after deductions, or a profit after expenses.
The final bill was $850, less the $50 deposit we had already paid.
pattern: [total] less [deduction]
Her take-home pay is €3,200 per month less taxes and pension contributions.
salary context: [gross] less [deductions]
Kian calculated the net price as $120 less the student discount of 15%.
The company's profit last quarter was £2.4 million less operating costs.
financial context: revenue less expenses
Charlotte received $2,000 as an advance, less the agency's commission.
- less tax
- less discount
- less commission
- less costs
- less deductions
- less expenses
- plus
the opposite additive operation
Grammar Patterns
[amount/number] less [deduction/item]
Usage Note
This preposition typically appears in formal, financial, or accounting contexts. In everyday spoken English, 'minus' is far more common for arithmetic ('five minus three equals two', not 'five less three'). The pattern is always [total] less [what is subtracted].
Common Mistakes
less — adjective suffix
1. added to a noun to form an adjective that means someone or something does not ha
added to a noun to form an adjective that means someone or something does not have that thing — for example, a careless person is someone who does not show care, and a homeless animal is one that has no home.
Quan felt helpless when his phone battery died during the storm.
helpless = without help or ability to act
A homeless cat slept outside the shop every cold night.
homeless = without a home
Élise gave a careless shrug and walked away without looking back.
A useless key sat at the bottom of the drawer for years.
useless = without use or purpose
The child felt friendless on her first day at the new school.
- careless mistake
- helpless situation
- homeless person
- useless object
- hopeless case
- -ful
forms adjectives meaning 'full of' or 'having' (e.g. hopeful, careful)
Grammar Patterns
[noun] + less
Usage Note
This is the most common use of the suffix -less. The opposite suffix is -ful: compare hopeless (no hope) with hopeful (full of hope). The root is almost always a noun.
Common Mistakes
2. added to a verb or noun to form an adjective meaning either (i) too many to coun
added to a verb or noun to form an adjective meaning either (i) too many to count or unable to stop, or (ii) not affected by the thing mentioned — for example, countless stars cannot be counted, a tireless worker does not get tired, and a restless child cannot stay still.
A countless number of stars filled the night sky above the village.
countless = too many to count
Kemi remained speechless after hearing the surprising news.
speechless = unable to speak
Selim did tireless work to finish the project on time.
The restless child could not sit still during the long lesson.
restless = unable to stay still or rest
The family endured ceaseless noise from the construction site next door.
- countless stars
- tireless efforts
- speechless with shock
- restless sleep
- tireless worker
- unable to
a periphrastic equivalent that works as a phrase rather than a suffix
- -able
adds the meaning 'can be done' (countless vs countable)
Grammar Patterns
[verb/noun] + less
Usage Note
Words in this sense often express impossibility (countless, speechless) or continuous action (tireless, restless). Unlike sense 1 (WITHOUT), the focus here is on inability rather than absence. Some words like countless can fit both senses depending on context.
Common Mistakes
less — suffix
1. added to a noun to create an adjective meaning 'not having' or 'lacking' the thi
added to a noun to create an adjective meaning 'not having' or 'lacking' the thing the noun refers to
Beatrix was speechless when she won the first prize at the science fair.
"speechless" — noun "speech" + "-less"
A careless mistake by the chef set off the smoke alarm in the kitchen.
The river looked lifeless after the factory dumped chemicals into the water.
"lifeless" — noun "life" + "-less"
Adisa's restless baby kept waking up every two hours all night long.
"restless" — noun "rest" + "-less"
Tamar found the instructions useless because they were in a language she did not read.
- careless driver
- restless night
- endless wait
- hopeless situation
- harmless joke
- useless advice
- powerless to stop
- lifeless body
- speechless with shock
- limitless possibilities
- -ful
direct opposite; forms adjectives meaning 'full of' or 'characterised by' the same noun — compare careful/careless, hopeful/hopeless, useful/useless
Grammar Patterns
noun + -less → adjective
Usage Note
The suffix -less attaches directly to common nouns to form adjectives. It is highly productive and works with both concrete nouns (a home → homeless, a roof → roofless) and abstract nouns (care → careless, hope → hopeless). Learners should not confuse this suffix with the comparative word 'less' — compare 'a harmless insect' (an insect without harm) with 'a less harmful insect' (an insect that causes less harm than another).
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: adverb/1
Use 'less' for uncountable amounts (less water, less time). Use 'fewer' before countable plurals (fewer chairs, fewer people) — this distinction matters in formal English, though 'less' is common informally with numbers and measures. 'Lesser' means lower in importance or quality (a lesser evil, a lesser artist), not smaller in quantity. 'Smaller' refers to physical size or dimensions (a smaller house), whereas 'less' measures degree or amount. For degree comparisons: 'less expensive' vs. 'cheaper' (where the adjective has a one-word comparative).
Common collocations
Adverbs
- much less
- far less
- even less
- a lot less
- no less
Phrases
- more or less
- no less than
- less and less
- less is more
- nothing less than
- still less
Prepositions
- less than
- less of
Etymology
The comparative word 'less' comes from Old English lǣssa, which was the comparative form of lȳtel ('little'). Its Germanic roots include Old Saxon lēs, Old High German lēs, and Gothic *lēs (smaller). This is distinct from the suffix -less (as in 'careless'), which comes from Old English -lēas meaning 'without' or 'devoid of' — a different root altogether.