less
/lɛs/ · les
noun
- A smaller amount or quantity. I have less to do today than yesterday.
- A reduction or decrease in something. The company experienced less revenue this quarter compared to last year.
verb
- To make something smaller or less in amount or degree. The new policy aims to lessen the impact of climate change on local communities.
adverb
- To a smaller extent or degree. I like him less each time I see him.
- To a lesser extent or degree. The new law will have less of an impact on small businesses than previously thought.
preposition
- Minus; not including. It should then tax all of that as personal income, less the proportion of the car's annual mileage demonstrably clocked up on company business.
Did you know? The word 'less' is often confused with 'fewer', but 'less' is used for non-countable nouns, while 'fewer' is used for countable nouns.