Pronunciation: /lɛs/

Definitions of less

adjective comparative form of the adjective 'little', used to describe a smaller amount or degree

Example Sentences

A1 I have less money than my friend.

A2 She needs less sugar in her coffee.

B1 I prefer to have less clutter in my home.

B2 He has less experience in this field compared to others.

C1 The company aims to have less waste in their production process.

C2 The artist's work is known for its less conventional approach.

adverb used to compare two things and show that the first one is smaller or of a lower degree than the second one

Example Sentences

A1 I eat less candy than my sister.

A2 She studied less for the exam than I did.

B1 I need to spend less money on clothes.

B2 He works less efficiently when he's tired.

C1 The company produces less waste thanks to new recycling initiatives.

C2 She speaks less confidently in front of large audiences.

Examples of less in a Sentence

formal The new regulations aim to promote the use of public transportation and reduce the number of cars on the road, resulting in less traffic congestion.

informal If you eat less junk food, you'll start feeling more energetic and healthy.

slang I'm trying to spend less time on my phone and more time enjoying the real world.

figurative She felt less burdened after finally letting go of the past and moving forward with a clean slate.

Grammatical Forms of less

past tense

lessened

plural

fewer

comparative

lesser

superlative

least

present tense

less

future tense

will be less

perfect tense

has been less

continuous tense

is being less

singular

less

positive degree

less

infinitive

to lessen

gerund

lessening

participle

lessened

Origin and Evolution of less

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'less' originated from the Old English word 'læs' which meant 'smaller in size or amount'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'less' has retained its basic meaning of 'smaller in size or amount', but has also evolved to be used in various contexts and expressions to indicate a reduction or absence of something.