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 government—
Irving Stone
Irving Stone
: one that is least
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
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025
Advertisement Minimal protections for football’s youngest players Experts argue that youth football is the least regulated of all.
—Alana Semuels, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
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
Angélica Franganillo Díaz, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
The last time that sellers significantly outnumbered buyers, in November 2018, home-price growth shrank to the lowest level in at least six years, with prices rising 2 percent from a year earlier to $283,912.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for least
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Adjective
The critical role underpins the nation’s defense as the ultimate security guarantee, and at least one of the boats is deployed in an unknown location at sea every minute of every day, according to a press release.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025
Advertisement Minimal protections for football’s youngest players Experts argue that youth football is the least regulated of all.
—Alana Semuels, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
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
Adverb
The crash killed at least 16 people and injured several others after a steel cable connecting the historic Glória funicular’s two cars snapped, a preliminary investigation found.
—Angélica Franganillo Díaz, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
The last time that sellers significantly outnumbered buyers, in November 2018, home-price growth shrank to the lowest level in at least six years, with prices rising 2 percent from a year earlier to $283,912.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for least
Cite this Entry
“Least.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/least. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
least
1 of 3 adjective1
: 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
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