leastways

9.9

Use this informal word to show a small positive point

adverb
/ˈliːstweɪz/

Archaic

: al menos

He might have made mistakes, but leastways he tried his best.

Examples

They couldn't fix the car today, but leastways they managed to get it running.
I don't know when he'll arrive, but leastways he'll be here before dinner.
At leastways, I tried my best.
You did well, leastways.
He might have made mistakes, but leastways, he tried his best.
I don't know when he'll arrive, but leastways, he'll be here before dinner.
They couldn't fix the car today, but leastways, they managed to get it running.

Synonyms

at least

vsleastways

∞ 1.3

To point out a small positive in a bad situation

is more dialectal and informal than this neutral consoling use

at the very least

vsleastways

141 3.4

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

expresses a milder qualifying concession rather than a strong minimum

at any rate

vsleastways

27 3.7

To say something is true despite what was said before

serves as a qualifying concession but more for brief comment transitions

at the least

vsleastways

16 2.4

Not less than the minimum that is expected or needed

functions as a casual qualifying concession rather than a precise minimum

leastwise

vsleastways

Archaic

9.4

Says the smallest thing we can be sure of

is the informal dialect form rather than the neutral standard phrase

Antonyms

at most

68 1.3

No more than a set number or amount

Surface Forms

leastways positive

Morphology

leastways = least (semi-transparent) = least + ways

The meaning is derivable from 'least' plus the informal/dialectal adverbial '-ways', which may not be fully productive or standard for all learners.

Etymology

Leastways comes from least, meaning 'smallest', plus the ending -ways, which turns a word into an adverb like anyways. So, leastways means 'at least' or 'anyway' and is used when you want to give a small or minimum point or to soften what you say.