🔽 Smallest degree 🔽 Smallest part 🔽 Smallest amount

least

476 1.0

Smallest in amount or degree compared with others

adjective
/liːst/

: menor

This is the least expensive option available for purchase.
principle of least privilege

I want the most corn in the least amount of time on my farm.

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Examples

She received the least support from her colleagues during the project.
Which country has the least rainfall each year?
Who on your team is the least responsible?
So class time for these students was the least active time.
I would say this is the least fun that I've ever had.
But I have had the least follower growth, the least likes, the least views.
Even then, the government must opt for the least restrictive way in which to further that interest.

Academic text (2011)
If you can't be reasonable, at least make an effort to sound reasonable.

Academic text (2011)
Incoming students' knowledge will consist of at least basic algebra and science concepts.

Academic text (2011)
Everyone agreed that being able to have at least two triad conferences was beneficial.

Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

minimal

vsleast

196 3.3

Very small in amount or degree

is the superlative form of little used with mass nouns and preceded by the

lowest

vsleast

100 1.0

At the bottom in rank or importance in a group

refers to amount or degree as a superlative used with mass nouns

Antonyms

most

955 1.0

The greatest amount of something that cannot be counted, like money or water

Idioms

at least

∞ 1.3

To point out a small positive in a bad situation

at least

∞ 1.0

Not less than a certain amount or number

at the least

159 2.4

Not less than the minimum that is expected or needed

at the very least

136 3.4

To say the thing just said is the least you should do

to say the least

Informal

80 4.2

Shows that something is much worse than it seems

last but not least

54 3.4

Introduce the last person or thing and show they are equally important

in the least

50 4.4

Not at all, not even a little

the least bit

49 3.7

There is not even a small amount

least of all

29 4.6

Shows that a person or thing is less likely than others to do something

not in the least

25 2.0

Not at all, not even a little bit

least said, soonest mended

Informal

1 9.9

Saying very little about a problem helps people fix it quickly

Compounds

least resistance

Informal

11 4.2

A way of doing something that tries to avoid effort or a fight

path of least resistance

Informal

9 3.9

The easiest choice that avoids difficulty or conflict

least effort

8 3.4

The smallest amount of work needed to do something

least worst

7 8.0

The best choice among several bad options

least squares

Specialized

1 7.0

A method that fits a line or curve to data by making squared errors as small as possible

line of least resistance

Informal

1 4.4

An easy choice that avoids trouble or argument

method of least squares

Specialized

1 7.0

A way to fit a line or curve to data by making squared errors as small as possible

least common multiple

Specialized

1 4.4

The smallest number that two or more numbers divide evenly into

least sandpiper

1 9.6

A very small bird that lives on coasts in North America with yellow green legs

least shrew

1 9.9

A very small brown mammal like a mouse that lives in grassy areas in the eastern United States

least bittern

1 9.9

A very small heron that hides in reeds in marshes

New World least weasel

9.3

A very small wild mammal in Canada and northeastern United States that turns white in winter

Old World least weasel

9.2

A very small weasel from Europe and Asia with a long thin body and short legs

How Small

least

476 1.0

tiny

∞ 1.0

small

∞ 1.0

medium

284 1.3

large

∞ 1.0

huge

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

least positive

Etymology

Least as an adjective is the form of little and less that means 'smallest', coming from an old English word for 'smallest', so the least amount is the smallest amount.