- smallest in size, amount, degree, etc.
- He's the best teacher, even though he has the least experience.
- She never had the least idea what to do about it.
- He gave (the) least of all towards the wedding present.
- the least of something How others see me is the least of my worries (= I have more important things to worry about).
- It's the least I can do to help (= I feel I should do more).
Word OriginOld English lǣst, lǣsest, of Germanic origin; related to less.
Idioms
See least in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee least in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishat the (very) least
- used after amounts to show that the amount is the lowest possible
- It'll take a year, at the very least.
not in the least
- not at all
- Really, I'm not in the least tired.
- ‘Do you mind if I put the television on?’ ‘No, not in the least.’
not the least/slightest bit
- not at all
- Normally I'm not the least bit shy.
- He wasn't the slightest bit interested in answering our questions.
to say the least
- without making something seem better, worse, more serious, etc. than it really is
- I was surprised, to say the least.
Check pronunciation:
least