Definitions for least
listleast

Princeton's WordNet(3.00 / 8 votes)Rate this definition:

1. leastadjective

   something that is of no importance

   "it is the least I can do"; "that is the least of my concerns"

2. least(a)adverb

   the superlative of `little' that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by `the'; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

   "didn't care the least bit"; "he has the least talent of anyone"

3. least, to the lowest degreeadverb

   used to form the superlative

   "The garter snake is the least dangerous snake"

Wiktionary(2.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. leastadverb

   Used for forming superlatives of adjectives, especially those that do not form the superlative by adding -est.

   It was the least surprising thing.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Leastadj. the superlative of little.

   Little beyond others; smallest.

   Etymology: læst , Saxon.

   I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies shewed to thy servant. Gen. xxxii. 10.

   A man can no more have a positive idea of the greatest than he has of the least space. John Locke.

2. Leastadverb

   In the lowest degree; in a degree below others; less than any other way.

   He resolv’d to wave his suit,
   Or for a while play least in sight. Hudibras, p. i.

   Ev’n that avert; I chuse it not;
   But taste it as the least unhappy lot. John Dryden, Knight’s Tale.

   No man more truly knows to place a right value on your friendship, than he who least deserves it on all other accounts than his due sense of it. Alexander Pope, Letters.

Webster Dictionary(3.00 / 5 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Leastadjective

   smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; most unimportant; as, the least insect; the least mercy; the least space

2. Leastadverb

   in the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all others; as, to reward those who least deserve it

3. Least

   see Lest, conj

4. Etymology: [OE. last, lest, AS. lsast, lsest, superl. of lssa less. See Less, a.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(5.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Least

   lēst, adj. (serves as superl. of Little) little beyond all others: smallest.—adv. in the smallest or lowest degree.—advs. Least′ways, Least′wise, at least: however.—At least, or At the least, at the lowest estimate: at any rate. [A.S. læst, contr. from læsast, from læssa (adj.), less, læs (adv.).]

2. Least

   lēst, conj. (Spens.). Same as Lest.

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'least' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2292

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'least' in Written Corpus Frequency: #3617

3. Adverbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'least' in Adverbs Frequency: #186

Anagrams for least »

1. astel

2. lates

3. leats

4. salet

5. setal

6. slate

7. stale

8. steal

9. stela

10. taels

11. tales

12. teals

13. tesla

How to pronounce least?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say least in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of least in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of least in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of least in a Sentence

1. Stefan Peterson:

   I was hoping and thinking that at least some countries somewhere must be doing the right thing for children now and the right thing for children in the future -- but I saw no country was in that ideal place and that quite surprised me.

2. Dello Russo:

   He’s stable, they moved him out of ICU, he’s on the mend right now. They got him all stapled up, but he’s going to be there for at least two weeks.

3. Oscar Wilde:

   Music makes one feel so romantic - at least it always gets on one's nerves - which is the same thing nowadays.

4. Hidezo Sato:

   If people come to brag about getting close to the plant, that can't be helped, but at least they'll come.

5. Aron Janssen:

   As physicians at least we have an ethical responsibility to treat the patients who come through our doors, it’s not an excuse to say you have n’t been trained.

Popularity rank by frequency of use