least

1 of 3

adjective

ˈlēst

superlative of little entry 1

: lowest in importance or position

It's least on my list of worries.

: smallest in size or degree

The least noise would startle her.

: being a member of a kind distinguished by diminutive size

the least bittern

: smallest possible : slightest

believed that the least government was the best government

Irving Stone

least

2 of 3

adverb

superlative of little entry 2

: in the smallest or lowest degree

Phrases

at least

: at the minimum

at least once a week

: in any case

at least you have a choice

least of all

: especially not

no one, least of all the children, paid attention

Example Sentences

Adverb Who was the least at fault in the case? He asked me to help him when I least expected it. That was the least important of her reasons. That was the least interesting book I have ever read.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

We were told that at the very least that Wanda Maximoff will appear in one episode of the WandaVision spinoff series Agatha: Coven of Chaos, and that role would be very minor [but pivotal].

Maren Estrada, BGR, 4 Dec. 2022 Naji al-Naimi, a board member of Majlis al-Dama, a lively hub of coffee and backgammon in Doha’s outdoor marketplace, said the scores of international fans wearing his national dress don’t bother him in the least.

Isabel Debre, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2022 But long before that, the job was demanding, to say the least.

Dodai Stewart, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Dec. 2022 At the very least, however, the goal post will have to be replaced.

Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 3 Dec. 2022 Worst of all, Simons scored 23 of those points in the first quarter, when the Jazz’s defense was lacking, to say the least.

Andy Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 Dec. 2022 Negotiations on 2023 contracts at the very least are ongoing.

Todd Rosiak, Journal Sentinel, 2 Dec. 2022 Such narratives are usually apocryphal, or, at the very least, simplified to a fault.

Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2022 But long before that, the job was demanding, to say the least.

Dodai Stewart, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2022

Noun

This is one of the ideas that have long made electoral politics a graveyard for the American left: the hope of a post-political, revolutionary campaign built on the backs of the voters most sympathetic to their cause and least likely to vote.

Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, 19 Mar. 2020 The scales will be tipped by those least connected to the political parties, and most connected to deliberative process.

David Paleologos, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2019 Respondents were asked to rank 39 possible trends—25 of which were trends from previous years—from 1 (least likely to be a trend) to 10 (most likely to be a trend).

Leah Prinzivalli, SELF, 1 Nov. 2018 Women nominated for Grammy Awards, for instance, were most likely to be recognized for best new artist or song of the year and least likely to be up for producer of the year.

August Brown, latimes.com, 25 Jan. 2018 As of now, the Power 5 league least likely to be represented in the playoff is the Pac-12, whose teams have steadily beaten each other; only one of its teams is ranked in The A.P.’s top 15.

Marc Tracy, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2017 A pre-emptive U.S. military blow can’t be ruled out, but such a strike carries great risk and is among his least likely options.

Robert Burns, The Seattle Times, 6 July 2017 That propels her toward Rex, the bomb-sniffer least likely to be voted Mr. Canine Congeniality.

Special To The Washington Post, The Denver Post, 9 June 2017

Adverb

And officials acknowledged that members of vulnerable communities and the elderly are least likely to use the platform.

Mark Berman, Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2022 Biden is least likely to talk to Lavrov, given the U.S. president's efforts to get G20 nations to punish and isolate Russia.

Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY, 15 Nov. 2022 Sexton could be, or the Jazz could have to look for a longer-term replacement in the draft, trade market, or (least likely) free agency.

Andy Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 13 Nov. 2022 Investors 58 years old and over were the least likely to support ESG objectives in general, and those between 18 and 41 were the most likely—a difference that showed in their willingness to put their savings at risk to support various initiatives.

Lisa Ward, WSJ, 2 Nov. 2022 Curiously, states in the South were the least likely to discover a future hit.

Chris Morris, Variety, 31 Oct. 2022 Perhaps one of the least likely sources of holes in the ozone layer, though, was auroras.

Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 24 Oct. 2022 Ketchup and mustard are two of the least likely words to pop up in a songwriting session.

Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2022 Those are the least likely to get canceled as delays haven't had a chance to domino across an airline's network first thing in the morning.

Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 13 Nov. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'least.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.