least
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
How often you will meet it
Rank 323 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 62,604 times across 155,139 chapters — 0.030% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 500 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
adjective
- the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree didn't care the least bithe has the least talent of anyone
adverb
- used to form the superlative also: to the lowest degree The garter snake is the least dangerous snake
noun
- something that is of no importance it is the least I can dothat is the least of my concerns
least in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
-
The fellow must be at least twenty years younger than she is!
The Mysterious Affair at Styles · Agatha Christie · Chapter 1
-
If they know nothing of victory, they are at least spared the knowledge of defeat.
The Picture of Dorian Gray · Oscar Wilde · Chapter 1
-
These ladies, Miss Gascoigne and Miss Grey, had neither called upon nor taken the least notice of Miss Oakley.
Christian's Mistake · Dinah Maria Mulock Craik · Chapter 1
-
You are not in the least like him, and you will have reason to repent leaving tried to pass for him.
An Egyptian Princess — Volume 07 · Georg Ebers · Chapter 1
-
For each class goes away confident that the president at least shares its conviction that it is the best class ever graduated.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1