Low vs. Less: Difference and Comparison
Edited by Muazma Batool — By Muneeza Rehman — Updated on September 21, 2023
Low refers to something situated at a small height or level, while less is used to describe a smaller amount or degree of something.
Difference Between Low and Less
Low is primarily an adjective that denotes something that is positioned not far above the ground or below a standard height or level, it could refer to amounts, values, or quantities that are smaller than usual or desirable. In contrast, less serves as an adjective or adverb representing a smaller amount, degree, or extent of something when compared with another. Less is often used in comparisons to convey the deficiency or reduction in quantity or degree of one thing relative to another.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 21, 2023
In the application to quantities, levels, or states, low is utilized to signify lesser amounts or diminished states, for instance, low income, low energy, or low mood. It can describe situations or conditions characterized by the lack or shortage of something. Less, however, focuses more on the reduction or decrease in quantity, amount, or degree, expressing comparative insufficiency or inferiority in terms of quantity or amount, such as less time, less money, or less effort.
Muazma Batool
Sep 21, 2023
When describing physical positions or states, low suggests closeness to the ground, a base level, or below average height. It portrays reduced elevation or stature, like a low shelf or a low hill. In contrast, less doesn’t usually apply to physical positions or states but concentrates on expressing comparative deficiency in quantity, amount, or degree.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 21, 2023
In describing quality, value, or intensity, low often represents something inferior, substandard, or with diminished intensity like low quality, low value, or low light. Less, conversely, communicates a comparative reduction or diminution in the quality, value, or intensity, such as less valuable, less intense, or less important.
Kaitlyn
Sep 21, 2023
Low and less, although different in usage, both contribute to the expression of deficiency, reduction, or inferiority, with low focusing more on position, level, or state, and less emphasizing the comparative decrease in quantity, degree, or extent.
Elijah
Sep 21, 2023
Low vs. Less Comparison Chart
Represents
Position, level, or state below the average or normal
Comparative reduction in quantity or degree
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 21, 2023
Application
Describes positions, levels, states, amounts, or values
Used in comparisons to express deficiency
Muazma Batool
Sep 21, 2023
Usage in Quantities
Can denote smaller amounts or diminished states
Expresses reduced or smaller amounts
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 21, 2023
Relativity
Usually absolute, describing a state or position
Comparative, expressing reduction or inferiority
Kaitlyn
Sep 21, 2023
Low vs. Less Definitions
◉Low
Low describes something situated not far above the ground.
The shelf is low, so the children can reach it.
Jonathan
Sep 21, 2023
◉Less
Less is used to describe the comparative deficiency in quantity or degree.
He earned less money this month.
Muazma Batool
Sep 21, 2023
◉Low
Low denotes a smaller amount or degree than usual.
The car has low fuel efficiency.
Muazma Batool
Sep 21, 2023
◉Less
Less conveys the concept of minus or without.
Less the cost of materials, the profit margin is high.
Muazma Batool
Sep 21, 2023
◉Low
Low implies a weak or depressed state or condition.
She was feeling low after receiving the bad news.
Jonathan
Sep 21, 2023
◉Less
Not as great in amount or quantity
had less time to spend with the family.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Less
Lower in importance, esteem, or rank
no less a person than the ambassador.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Near to the ground or the horizon
The low clouds threaten rain. The sun is low.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Less
Something not as important as something else
People have been punished for less.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Less
comparative of little
I slept even less last night than I did the night before.
I like him less each time I see him.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Close or closer to a reference point
was low in the offensive zone, near the goal.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Less
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.
This gadget is less useful than I expected.
I'm not any less happy for being on my own.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
(Linguistics) Produced with part or all of the tongue depressed, as a, pronounced (ä), in father. Used of vowels.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Less
To a smaller extent or degree.
The grammar book was less than (that is, not at all) helpful.
That this is a positive one makes it no less a stereotype, and therefore unacceptable.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Less
(Now chiefly of numbers or dimensions) little; of inferior size, degree or extent; smaller, lesser.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Less
A smaller amount of; not as much.
No less than eight pints of beer.
I have less tea than coffee.
You have even less sense than an inanimate object.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Ranked near the beginning of an ascending series or scale
a low number.
a low grade of oil.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Less
Fewer; a smaller number of.
There are less people here now.
Now there are three less green bottles hanging on the wall.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Less
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.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Relatively small. Used of a cost, price, or other value
a low fee.
a low income.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Having a pitch corresponding to a relatively small number of sound-wave cycles per second.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Less
A smaller amount or quantity.
Less is better.
I have less to do today than yesterday.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Violating standards of morality or decency; base
a low stunt to pull. ].
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Less
Smaller; not so large or great; not so much; shorter; inferior; as, a less quantity or number; a horse of less size or value; in less time than before.
Thus in less [time] than a hundred years from the coming of Augustine, all England became Christian.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Less
Not so much; in a smaller or lower degree; as, less bright or loud; less beautiful.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Situated close to, or even below, the ground or another normal reference plane; not high or lofty.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Less
A smaller portion or quantity.
The children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Pertaining to (or, especially of a language: spoken in) in an area which is at a lesser elevation, closer to sea level (especially near the sea), than other regions.
the low countries
Low German
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Of less than normal height or upward extent or growth, or of greater than normal depth or recession; below the average or normal level from which elevation is measured.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Less
(comparative of `little' usually used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree;
of less importance
less time to spend with the family
a shower uses less water
less than three years old
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Not high in status, esteem, or rank, dignity, or quality. vulgar.}}
Now that was low even for you!
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Less
(usually preceded by `no') lower in esteem;
no less a person than the king himself
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Less
(nonstandard in some uses but often idiomatic with measure phrases) fewer;
less than three weeks
no less than 50 people attended
in 25 words or less
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Disparaging; assigning little value or excellence.
She had a low opinion of cats. He took a low view of dogs.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Less
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs;
less interesting
less expensive
less quickly
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Less
comparative of little;
she walks less than she should
he works less these days
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Less
Less denotes a smaller amount or degree of something.
She has less time to complete the project.
Olivia
Sep 21, 2023
◉Low
Lacking health or vitality, strength or vivacity; feeble; weak.
a low pulse
made (or: laid) low by sickness
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Less
Less implies a reduction or decrease in amount or extent.
There is less risk involved in this option.
Levi
Sep 21, 2023
◉Less
Less represents the idea of not as much.
She is less concerned about her appearance now.
Lucas
Sep 21, 2023
◉Low
Small, not high (in amount or quantity, value, force, energy, etc).
My credit union charges a low interest rate.
Jogging during a whiteout, with such low temperatures and low visibility, is dangerous.
The store sold bread at low prices, and milk at even lower prices.
The contractors gave a low estimate of the costs.
low cholesterol
a low voltage wire
a low number
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Having a small or comparatively smaller concentration of (a substance, which is often but not always linked by "in" when predicative).
diets low in vitamin A
made from low-carbon steel
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Simple in complexity or development.
low protozoan animals, low cryptogamic plants, and other low organisms
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
(in several set phrases) Being near the equator.
the low northern latitudes
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
(acoustics) Grave in pitch, due to being produced by relatively slow vibrations (wave oscillations); flat.
The note was too low for her to sing.
Generally, European men have lower voices than their Indian counterparts.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Quiet; soft; not loud.
They spoke in low voices so I would not hear what they were saying.
Why would you want to play heavy metal at such a low volume?
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
(phonetics) Made with a relatively large opening between the tongue and the palate; made with (part of) the tongue positioned low in the mouth, relative to the palate.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
(card games) Lesser in value than other cards, denominations, suits, etc.
a low card
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Not rich or seasoned; offering the minimum of nutritional requirements; plain, simple.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
A low point or position, literally (as, a depth) or or figuratively (as, a nadir, a time when things are at their worst, least, minimum, etc).
You have achieved a new low in behavior, Frank.
Economic growth has hit a new low.
Unemployment has reached a ten-year low.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
The minimum atmospheric temperature recorded at a particular location, especially during one 24-hour period.
Today's low was 32 °F.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
A period of depression; a depressed mood or situation.
He is in a low right now.
the highs and lows of bipolar disorder
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
An area of low pressure; a depression.
A deep low is centred over the British Isles.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
The lowest-speed gearing of a power-transmission system, especially of an automotive vehicle.
Shift out of low before the car gets to eight miles per hour.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
(card games) The lowest trump, usually the deuce; the lowest trump dealt or drawn.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
A cheap, cost-efficient, or advantageous price.
He got the brand new Yankees jersey for the low.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Under the usual price; at a moderate price; cheaply.
He sold his wheat low.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
(astronomy) In a path near the equator, so that the declination is small, or near the horizon, so that the altitude is small; said of the heavenly bodies with reference to the diurnal revolution.
The moon runs low, i.e. comparatively near the horizon when on or near the meridian.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
To make the calling sound of cows and other bovine animals; to moo.
The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
The calling sound ordinarily made by cows and other bovine animals.
Talking voices and the law of herds.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Occupying an inferior position or place; not high or elevated; depressed in comparison with something else; as, low ground; a low flight.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Not rising to the usual height; as, a man of low stature; a low fence.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Near the horizon; as, the sun is low at four o'clock in winter, and six in summer.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Beneath the usual or remunerative rate or amount, or the ordinary value; moderate; cheap; as, the low price of corn; low wages.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Made, as a vowel, with a low position of part of the tongue in relation to the palate; as, ă (ăm), ạ (ạll). See Guide to Pronunciation, 5, 10, 11.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Near, or not very distant from, the equator; as, in the low northern latitudes.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Wanting strength or animation; depressed; dejected; as, low spirits; low in spirits.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Depressed in condition; humble in rank; as, men of low condition; the lower classes.
Why but to keep ye low and ignorant ?
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Mean; vulgar; base; dishonorable; as, a person of low mind; a low trick or stratagem.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Not elevated or sublime; not exalted in thought or diction; as, a low comparison.
In comparison of these divine writers, the noblest wits of the heathen world are low and dull.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Deficient in vital energy; feeble; weak; as, a low pulse; made low by sickness.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Moderate; not intense; not inflammatory; as, low heat; a low temperature; a low fever.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Not rich, high seasoned, or nourishing; plain; simple; as, a low diet.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Under the usual price; at a moderate price; cheaply; as, he sold his wheat low.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
In time approaching our own.
In that part of the world which was first inhabited, even as low down as Abraham's time, they wandered with their flocks and herds.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
With a low voice or sound; not loudly; gently; as, to speak low.
The . . . odorous windBreathes low between the sunset and the moon.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
In subjection, poverty, or disgrace; as, to be brought low by oppression, by want, or by vice.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
In a path near the equator, so that the declination is small, or near the horizon, so that the altitude is small; - said of the heavenly bodies with reference to the diurnal revolution; as, the moon runs low, that is, is comparatively near the horizon when on or near the meridian.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
an air mass of lower pressure; often brings precipitation;
a low moved in over night bringing sleet and snow
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
British political cartoonist (born in New Zealand) who created the character Colonel Blimp (1891-1963)
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount;
low prices
the reservoire is low
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
literal meanings; being at or having a relatively small elevation or upward extension;
low ceilings
low clouds
low hills
the sun is low
low furniture
a low bow
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
of the most contemptible kind;
abject cowardice
a low stunt to pull
a low-down sneak
his miserable treatment of his family
You miserable skunk!
a scummy rabble
a scurvy trick
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
low or inferior in station or quality;
a humble cottage
a lowly parish priest
a modest man of the people
small beginnings
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
subdued or brought low in condition or status;
brought low
a broken man
his broken spirit
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
low in spirits;
lonely and blue in a strange city
depressed by the loss of his job
a dispirited and resigned expression on her face
downcast after his defeat
feeling discouraged and downhearted
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
being the gear producing the lowest drive speed;
use first gear on steep hills
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Low
Low can refer to something below average in amount, extent, or quality.
The team displayed low performance during the match.
Nolan
Sep 21, 2023
◉Low
Low can mean having little value or quality.
He bought the item at a low price.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 21, 2023
Low vs. Less Frequently Asked Questions
Can less be used as an adverb?
Yes, less can function as an adverb to modify adjectives or other adverbs, indicating a lesser degree or extent.
Leo
Sep 21, 2023
What does low mean?
Low primarily describes something that is below average in amount, extent, level, or quality.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 21, 2023
How is low different from less in expressing quantity?
Low denotes a state or condition of having a smaller amount or degree, while less expresses a comparative reduction in quantity or degree.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 21, 2023
Can less describe physical position?
Less typically does not describe physical positions but focuses on expressing comparative deficiency in quantity, amount, or degree.
Kaitlyn
Sep 21, 2023
What is the meaning of less?
Less is used to express a smaller amount or degree of something in comparison to another.
Muazma Batool
Sep 21, 2023
Is less only used to describe quantity?
While less is primarily used to denote smaller quantities or amounts, it can also describe a reduction in degree, extent, or importance.
Kaitlyn
Sep 21, 2023
Can low describe physical position?
Yes, low can describe something that is situated not far above the ground or below a standard height or level.
Kaitlyn
Sep 21, 2023
How can low be used in a sentence?
Low can be used as an adjective to describe the position, amount, level, or quality, for example, a low shelf or low quality.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 21, 2023
Why is low used to describe quality or value?
Low can be used to describe something inferior or substandard in quality or something that has little value.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 21, 2023
When is less used to describe quality or value?
Less is used to describe comparative reduction or diminution in quality or value, as in less valuable or less important.
Muazma Batool
Sep 21, 2023
Content Creators
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