leastways

1 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 least

vsleastways

159 2.4

Not less than the minimum that is expected or needed

functions as a casual qualifying concession rather than a precise minimum

at the very least

vsleastways

136 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

61 3.7

To say something is true despite what was said before

serves as a qualifying concession but more for brief comment transitions

leastwise

vsleastways

Archaic

2 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

88 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.