least
least Lexical Profile
least Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Smallest in amount, extent, or significance; superlative of little.
"She chose the route with the least traffic to arrive on time."
Lowest in rank, status, or importance.
"Even the least member of the committee had an equal vote in the decision."
• adverb
To the smallest extent, amount, or degree.
"That was the least expensive option available on the menu."
• noun
The smallest amount, extent, or degree possible.
"Cleaning up your own workspace is the least you can do to help."
• pronoun
The smallest amount or the person or thing of lowest status or importance.
"Those who complain the loudest often accomplish the least."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Least' is the superlative form of 'little' (used for uncountable quantities or abstract degrees), whereas 'fewest' is the superlative of 'few' (used for countable nouns).
• Rhymes for least
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'læst', a contraction of 'læsest' ('smallest, lowest'), from Proto-Germanic '*laisistaz', serving as the irregular superlative corresponding to 'little'.