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 WebMohammad Al Sawalhi, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
Costs to enter the cannabis space vary widely, but some estimates show that just getting started can cost at least between $250,000 to $750,000.
—Lateshia Beachum, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
At least that was the shield when he was criticized.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 7 Apr. 2024
Now onto what matters: Leg two of the home-and-home vs. Monterrey is Wednesday in Mexico and Miami, with Messi, must win and score at least twice to stay alive in the CONCACAF Champions Cup after the 2-1 loss in Fort Lauderdale sans Messi.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024
The discrepancy was so great that its meaning seemed obvious, at least to most people.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
If the result won’t be at least five to ten times better, a project is a non-starter.
—Steven Levy, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024
Sacramento will soon be home to a new sports team, at least for the next three Major League Baseball seasons.
—Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 5 Apr. 2024
Wallace said at least seven people were in the water.
—Adela Suliman, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
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
Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 9 Apr. 2024
Launched in 2013, the program grants residency rights to foreigners who invest at least $541,250 (€500,000) in real estate in the country.
—Alex Wood Morton, Fortune Europe, 9 Apr. 2024
Charitable gaming regulations require at least 40% of net receipts go to charitable purposes, and in 2023, just over 64% of net receipts from across the industry went to charitable purposes.
—The Courier-Journal, 9 Apr. 2024
The case is a mere 7.20 mm thick, and it’s made of Lucent steel, Chopard’s proprietary alloy produced with a recycling rate of at least 80%.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024
West Plains resident Paige Davis officiated the ceremony, along with at least four others throughout the morning and early afternoon leading up to the eclipse.
—Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Have lived in your precinct for at least 30 days before the next election.
—Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Apr. 2024
In Cancer Alley, expansion is underway with at least 19 new fossil fuel and petrochemical plants in regions with the highest poverty rates and highest percent of Black residents.
—Jeremy Ney, TIME, 9 Apr. 2024
The complaint also noted that Novant cut hundreds of jobs in at least three rounds of layoffs during the same time.
—Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2024
Adjective
At least 700,000 Palestinians fled or were forcibly expelled from their homes following the 1948/49 war, in what is now Israel.
—Mohammad Al Sawalhi, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
Costs to enter the cannabis space vary widely, but some estimates show that just getting started can cost at least between $250,000 to $750,000.
—Lateshia Beachum, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
At least that was the shield when he was criticized.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 7 Apr. 2024
Now onto what matters: Leg two of the home-and-home vs. Monterrey is Wednesday in Mexico and Miami, with Messi, must win and score at least twice to stay alive in the CONCACAF Champions Cup after the 2-1 loss in Fort Lauderdale sans Messi.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024
The discrepancy was so great that its meaning seemed obvious, at least to most people.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
If the result won’t be at least five to ten times better, a project is a non-starter.
—Steven Levy, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024
Sacramento will soon be home to a new sports team, at least for the next three Major League Baseball seasons.
—Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 5 Apr. 2024
Wallace said at least seven people were in the water.
—Adela Suliman, Washington Post, 26 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
Butler County Sheriff’s Office records show that deputies responded to Murphy’s two properties at least 36 times from February 2020 to July 2023 to check on the animals’ welfare and respond to complaints about the conditions there.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 9 Apr. 2024
Launched in 2013, the program grants residency rights to foreigners who invest at least $541,250 (€500,000) in real estate in the country.
—Alex Wood Morton, Fortune Europe, 9 Apr. 2024
Charitable gaming regulations require at least 40% of net receipts go to charitable purposes, and in 2023, just over 64% of net receipts from across the industry went to charitable purposes.
—The Courier-Journal, 9 Apr. 2024
The case is a mere 7.20 mm thick, and it’s made of Lucent steel, Chopard’s proprietary alloy produced with a recycling rate of at least 80%.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024
West Plains resident Paige Davis officiated the ceremony, along with at least four others throughout the morning and early afternoon leading up to the eclipse.
—Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Have lived in your precinct for at least 30 days before the next election.
—Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Apr. 2024
In Cancer Alley, expansion is underway with at least 19 new fossil fuel and petrochemical plants in regions with the highest poverty rates and highest percent of Black residents.
—Jeremy Ney, TIME, 9 Apr. 2024
The complaint also noted that Novant cut hundreds of jobs in at least three rounds of layoffs during the same time.
—Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 28 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.
Dictionary Entries Near least
Cite this Entry
“Least.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/least. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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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