Word: Less

Pronunciation

/les/

Definitions

• Adjective: (comparative form of ‘little’) Indicating a smaller amount or degree. For example: “There are less apples in this basket.”
  • Formal Usage: When referring to countable nouns, it’s often considered more correct to use “fewer” instead of “less.” e.g., “Fewer people attended the event this year.”
• Adverb: To a smaller extent or degree; not so much. For example: “She exercises less frequently now.”

Phrases

• “Less than”: Indicating that something is not as much as or not as many as another thing. For example: “I have less than $10 left.”
• “No less”: Used to emphasize that something is surprising or impressive despite being equal to or similar to what is expected. For example: “She’s no less intelligent than her brother.”

Example Sentences

• Adjective: “We should consume less sugar to maintain a healthy diet.”
• Adverb: “He works less hard since he retired from his job.”

Synonyms

• Fewer (when referring to countable nouns)
• Lesser
• Reduced
• Decreased
• Diminished
• Lower
• Smaller

Note: Although “fewer” is technically the correct choice when comparing countable nouns, in informal usage, “less” is often used interchangeably with “fewer”.