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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Less: Meaning, Usage, and Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：a smaller amount (less)

less 🔊

/les/

adj., adv., prep.

used when comparing amounts to say a smaller amount.

Less water in glass compared to full glass illustrating smaller amount

a smaller amount 🔊

➕

/ə ˈsmɔːlər əˈmaʊnt/

adj., adv., prep.

Used to indicate a smaller quantity or degree of something when comparing two or more things.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'læs', comparative of 'lytel' (little).

💡 Mnemonic

Less = less than more: picture a small pile vs a big one. L-E-S-S = Little Extra Small.

📖 Example

To be healthier, I try to drink less sugary soda and more water. 🔊 To be healthier, I try to drink less sugary soda and more water.

🔗 Collocations

less than – not as much as; below a certain number or level

more or less – approximately; mostly

less likely – not as probable

🔄 Synonyms

fewer (determiner) – Used with countable nouns to indicate a smaller number.

smaller (adj.) – Of a smaller size or amount.

lesser (adj.) – Smaller in amount, value, or importance.

🚫 Antonyms

more (determiner) – A greater amount or quantity.

greater (adj.) – Larger in amount or degree.

larger (adj.) – Of greater size or amount.

🌱 Derivatives

lessen (v.) – To make or become less.

lesser (adj.) – Smaller in amount, value, or importance.

lessening (n.) – The process of becoming less.

📖 Cultural Story

Less descends from Proto-Germanic *laisiz, meaning 'smaller'. It has been a key comparative in English for over a thousand years, expressing diminution in quantity or degree.

Meaning 2：to a smaller degree (less)

less 🔊

/les/

adj., adv., prep.

used before adjectives to mean 'not as...as before' or 'not as...as something else'.

Face transition from stressed to calm showing less stress concept

to a smaller degree 🔊

➕

/tə ə ˈsmɔːlər dɪˈɡriː/

adj., adv., prep.

Used before an adjective to indicate that the quality expressed by the adjective is present to a smaller extent than before or than something else.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Now that the big project is over, I feel less stressed at work. 🔊 Now that the big project is over, I feel less stressed at work.

🔗 Collocations

less likely – Not as probable; having a smaller chance of happening.

less important – Of lower significance or priority.

less expensive – Costing a smaller amount of money.

🔄 Synonyms

minimally (adv.) – To a small or minimal degree.

slightly (adv.) – To a small degree; not significantly.

🚫 Antonyms

more (adv.) – To a greater extent or degree.

🌱 Derivatives

lessen (v.) – To make or become less.

lesser (adj.) – Smaller in amount, value, or importance.

lessening (n.) – The process of becoming less.