least
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adv.used to show that something is true to the smallest degree.
adv.used to form the superlative of adjectives or to modify verbs, indicating the lowest degree or intensity.
Simple“This was the least expensive car in the entire showroom.”
In context“Of all the proposed solutions, this one is the least likely to cause long-term environmental damage to the local ecosystem.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
pron.the smallest thing or the smallest amount possible.
pron.the smallest amount, extent, or importance, often used as the object of a verb or preposition.
Simple“The least you can do is say thank you for the gift.”
In context“While the fine was substantial, it was the least of his worries compared to the potential loss of his professional license.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
n.people who have the lowest rank or the least power.
n.the lowest-ranking or most insignificant members of a group.
Simple“The king promised to care for even the least of his subjects.”
In context“The ethical framework demands that we consider the impact of our policies on the least among us, rather than just the powerful.”
UsageOften appears in the phrase 'the least of these' or 'the least among us'.
SynonymslowliesthumblestAntonyms
Usage least one · least people · least three
The adjective, determiner, and noun are derived from Middle English leste, lest, last (“(adjective) smallest, least; (noun) smallest thing, etc.; person or thing least in importance; etc.”), from Old English lǣst, a contraction of læsast, læsest (“least”) (also lærest in only one source), from Proto-Germanic laisistaz (“smallest, least”), from laisiz (“less”) (possibly from Proto-Indo-European leh₂is- or leh₃is-; whence modern English less) + *-istaz (“suffix forming superlative forms of some adjectives”). The adverb and pronoun are derived from the adjective or determiner. cognates * Old Frisian leist * Old Saxon lēs
Contraction of at least.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.