View source for Less

{{BE850}}
{{BNC1000HW}}

=== Pronunciation ===
* {{IPA|/lɛs/}}
* {{SAMPA|/lEs/}}
* {{audio|en-us-less.ogg|Audio (US)}}
* {{audio|En-uk-less.ogg|Audio (UK)}}

== Determiner ==
{{determiner-comp|little|less|least}}
# {{det|s|n}} A [[small]]er [[amount]] or [[degree]]. {{synonyms|fewer|reduced}} {{antonyms|more}}
#: ''He does '''less''' of the work than she does.''
#: ''I want '''less''' soup.''
#: ''It costs '''less''' than $10.''
#: ''As we build new roads, these small ones will become '''less''' important.''
#: ''He wore a dark colour that was '''less''' likely to be seen.''

=== Related words ===
* [[little]]
* [[least]]
* [[more or less]]
* [[-less]]
* [[couldn’t care less]]

== Determiner ==
{| border=0 width=100%
|-
|bgcolor="#e2e2ff" valign=top width=33%|
Plain<br>
'''none'''
| width=0.5% |
|bgcolor="#e2e2ff" valign=top width=32%|
Comparative<br>
'''less'''
| width=0.5% |
|bgcolor="#e2e2ff" valign=top width=33%|
Superlative<br>
'''[[least]]'''
| width=0.5% |
|}[[Category:Adverbs]]
# If you do <math>x</math> '''less''' than <math>y</math>, you do not do <math>x</math> as much as <math>y</math>. {{antonyms|more}}
#: ''I read '''less''' than I used to.'' = "reading now < reading before"
#: ''He works '''less''' than she does.''
#: ''My leg really hurts, but my arm hurts '''less'''.'' = "my arm hurts < my leg hurts"
# If you do something '''less''' often, easily, well, etc., you do not do it as often, easily, well, etc. {{antonyms|more}}
#: ''I go out '''less''' often than before.''
#: ''He plays piano '''less''' than she does.''
# If something is '''less''' likely, expensive, important, etc., it is not as likely, expensive, important, etc. {{antonyms|more}}
#: ''This book is '''less''' expensive than that book.'' ="the price of this book < the price of that book"
#: ''You should go out. Studying is '''less''' important.''

=== Usage notes ===
(''with adjectives'') '''Less''' identifies the [[negative]] [[comparative]] form of all [[comparable]] adjectives.  For example, with the adjective ''intelligent'', the negative comparative is ''less intelligent''.  A [[similar]] form is the negative [[superlative]].

== Preposition ==
{{preposition}}
# {{math}} [[minus]] {{antonyms|plus}}
#: ''Seven '''less''' four is three.'' (<math>7-4=3</math>)