least

adjective
UK: /liːst/
US: /liːst/

  1. Smallest in amount, degree, or size.

    1. I ate the least amount of food on the plate. [ ] [ ]
    2. That company is the least likely to win the contract because of its reputation. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

minimum
least noun

  1. The smallest amount or degree.

    1. That's the least I can do for you right now. [ ] [ ]
    2. The very least you could do is apologize for breaking the vase. [ ] [ ]
least adverb

  1. To the smallest extent or degree.

    1. She spoke least often during the meeting today. [ ] [ ]
    2. He seemed least concerned about the potential impact of the new policy. [ ] [ ]
least conjunction

  1. Used to introduce a clause giving the reason why something is not possible or desirable.

    1. We must try, least we fail to get the grant. [ ] [ ]
    2. Write it down, least you forget the important details later. [ ] [ ]
least preposition

  1. Used before a noun to indicate something that is the smallest or of the lowest importance.

    1. I felt the least pain of anyone in the room. [ ] [ ]
    2. It was the least expensive option, but also the least reliable. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "least" is /liːst/ in British English and /liːst/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "least": minimum.

Example usage of "least": "I ate the least amount of food on the plate.". More examples on the page.