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less

/lɛs/
adverbdeterminerprepositionnoun

LESS is a common four-letter word meaning a smaller amount; it scores 4 points in Scrabble and has one listed anagram, SELS.

NWL Collins ENABLE

Adverb 2 meanings

  1. Used for constructing syntactic diminutive comparatives of adjectives and adverbs.

    “Randal is less welcome than Rachel but as her spouse we should invite them both.”

  2. To a smaller extent or degree.

    “The grammar book was less than (that is, not at all) helpful.”

Determiner 2 meanings

  1. A smaller amount of; not as much.

    “No less than eight pints of beer.”

  2. Fewer; a smaller number of.

    “There are less people here now.”

Preposition 1 meaning

  1. 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.”

Noun 1 meaning

  1. A smaller amount or quantity.

    “Less is better.”

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

Adverb From Middle English les, lesse, leasse, lasse, from Old English lǣs (“smaller, less”), from Proto-Germanic *laisiz, from Proto-Indo-European *leys- (“to shrink, grow thin, be gentle”). Cognate with Old Frisian lēs (“less”), Old Saxon lēs (“less”).

Similar and opposite words

Opposite
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Use less when you mean a smaller quantity or degree: “less noise” means a smaller amount of noise. The word also works before adjectives and adverbs to form comparisons, as in “less bright.” As a standalone entry, LESS is frequent in English, with a frequency rank of 287 and 90,011 recorded occurrences. Its short spelling makes it familiar, but the double S matters when you build it from tiles.

What does LESS mean, and what does it score?

  • LESS means a smaller amount, quantity, extent, or degree.
  • The four tiles L, E, S, and S each score 1 point, for 4 Scrabble points before board bonuses.
  • SELS is the sole listed anagram of LESS.
  • LOSS, MESS, and LEST are among its 19 one-letter neighbours.
  • GUESS, PRESS, and STRESS share the final “ess” rhyme.

How do you use LESS, and is it a good tile play?

LESS points to a reduced quantity or degree: “less sugar” means a smaller quantity of sugar. It also forms comparisons before adjectives and adverbs, as in “less sweet” or “less quickly.” In a construction such as “three dollars less,” it means minus or not including that amount.

The Scrabble total is modest: L, E, and both S tiles contribute 1 point apiece, making 4 altogether. That low face value can still fit a tight opening or extend a word already on the board. Check the board before playing; a premium square changes the result, not the tile values.

What words are one letter away from LESS?

Changing one letter gives 19 listed neighbours, including familiar options such as LOSS, MESS, LEST, and LENS. The shared letters make these close in spelling, but their meanings differ sharply: LESS describes reduction, while LOSS names something lost and MESS describes disorder.

SELS is the only anagram reported for these four tiles, so rearranging them does not produce a long choice of alternatives. The “ess” ending also links LESS with 12 rhyming words, from GUESS and PRESS to longer examples such as SUCCESS and ADDRESS. With SELS as its only anagram, LESS is a word you play for the board spot, not for rack flexibility.

Rhymes with less

All rhymes

One letter away

Change one letter, keep the rest

Questions people ask

What does LESS mean?
LESS means a smaller amount, quantity, extent, or degree. You can use it before a noun, as in “less time,” or before an adjective, as in “less expensive.” It can also mean minus or not including, as in “ten dollars less tax.”
How many points is LESS worth in Scrabble?
LESS is worth 4 points in Scrabble before any board bonuses. L, E, and each of the two S tiles are worth 1 point apiece, so the word’s face value is straightforward to total.
What is the anagram of LESS?
SELS is the only listed anagram of LESS. It uses the same four letters, including both S tiles, in a different order; the other close spellings, such as LOSS and MESS, require changing a letter.

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