least

1 of 3

adjective

superlative of little entry 1

1
: lowest in importance or position
It's least on my list of worries.
2
a
: smallest in size or degree
The least noise would startle her.
b
: being a member of a kind distinguished by diminutive size
the least bittern
c
: smallest possible : slightest
believed that the least government was the best governmentIrving Stone

least

2 of 3

noun

: one that is least

least

3 of 3

adverb

superlative of little entry 2

: in the smallest or lowest degree
Phrases
at least
1
: at the minimum
at least once a week
2
: in any case
at least you have a choice
least of all
: especially not
no one, least of all the children, paid attention

Examples of least in a Sentence

Adverb Who was the least at fault in the case? He asked me to help him when I least expected it. That was the least important of her reasons. That was the least interesting book I have ever read.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Noah hopes the tale in the titular notebook, which chronicles their great love story, will stir her memory and bring her back to him, at least one more time. Frank Rizzo, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024 Delicate chain necklaces and statement earrings accompany at least a dozen gold and silver cowrie shells tracing row after row of her braids. Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 14 Mar. 2024 Amy and Johnny, Season 6 Amy and Johnny had the least drama during their time on Love Is Blind. Charlotte Walsh, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2024 Smallmouth Bass Where: In swollen, dirty rivers, smallmouths will congregate in the paths of least resistance, which is typically tight to the bank in areas with slower current and moderate depth. Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 14 Mar. 2024 At least one Pac-12 team has reached the Final Four in 12 of the last 15 NCAA tournaments, including the 2021 event when Stanford beat Arizona in the final. Jeff Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 This moment resolves, at least for now, a years-long battle that started with a single location on Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo. Roy Bahat, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2024 Some close observers, at least, think Epic has a good legal argument. Wes Davis, The Verge, 13 Mar. 2024 First, within the framework of Title IX, invest at least $30,000 per year into an enhanced educational trust fund for at least half of the institution’s eligible student-athletes. Kevin Dotson, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024
Noun
The dish was created in 1926 at the Brown Hotel by chef Fred K. Schmidt after guests got bored with traditional ham and egg suppers (or so legend says, at leasts). Rae Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 28 Mar. 2023 This is one of the ideas that have long made electoral politics a graveyard for the American left: the hope of a post-political, revolutionary campaign built on the backs of the voters most sympathetic to their cause and least likely to vote. Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, 19 Mar. 2020 The scales will be tipped by those least connected to the political parties, and most connected to deliberative process. David Paleologos, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2019 Respondents were asked to rank 39 possible trends—25 of which were trends from previous years—from 1 (least likely to be a trend) to 10 (most likely to be a trend). Leah Prinzivalli, SELF, 1 Nov. 2018 Women nominated for Grammy Awards, for instance, were most likely to be recognized for best new artist or song of the year and least likely to be up for producer of the year. August Brown, latimes.com, 25 Jan. 2018 As of now, the Power 5 league least likely to be represented in the playoff is the Pac-12, whose teams have steadily beaten each other; only one of its teams is ranked in The A.P.’s top 15. Marc Tracy, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2017 A pre-emptive U.S. military blow can’t be ruled out, but such a strike carries great risk and is among his least likely options. Robert Burns, The Seattle Times, 6 July 2017 That propels her toward Rex, the bomb-sniffer least likely to be voted Mr. Canine Congeniality. Special To The Washington Post, The Denver Post, 9 June 2017
Adverb
In more than two-thirds of mass shootings between 2014 and 2019 — which The Washington Post defines as four or more people killed, not including the perpetrator — the shooter killed at least one family member or partner or had a history of domestic violence, Johns Hopkins researchers found. Nick Parker, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 In addition, 64% of adults report experiencing at least one trauma in their lifetime. Essence, 16 Mar. 2024 Elsewhere in Ohio, a tornado that struck Mercer County impacted mostly farmland and damaged at least one home and one hog barn, Mike Robbins, the county emergency management director, told CNN by phone. Dalia Faheid, CNN, 16 Mar. 2024 At least one person is dead and five others have been injured after a shooting inside a bar in Indianapolis. Jon Haworth, ABC News, 16 Mar. 2024 At least one tornado touched down in Ohio in the Indian Lake area and three others in southern Indiana and north-central Kentucky Thursday. Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2024 National Weather Service crews were onsite surveying the damage Friday, and their results will determine the strength of the storm, which likely produced at least one tornado. Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Mar. 2024 That means a 150 pound individual would need at least 68 grams of carbohydrates before exercise. Rebecca Jaspan, Mph, Health, 5 Mar. 2024 Supreme Court The Supreme Court may hand down at least one opinion today, driving speculation that the justices are prepared to decide whether Donald Trump is eligible to appear on Colorado’s presidential ballot. Aj Willingham, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'least.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Noun, and Adverb

Middle English leest, from Old English lǣst, superlative of lǣssa less

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of least was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near least

Cite this Entry

“Least.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/least. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

least

1 of 3 adjective
1
: lowest in importance or position
2
: smallest in size or degree

least

2 of 3 noun
: one that is least : something of the lowest possible value or importance

least

3 of 3 adverb
: in the smallest or lowest degree

Medical Definition

least

superlative of little

More from Merriam-Webster on least

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