least
/liːst/determiner, pronoun, adverb
उच्चारण लीस्ट
सबसे कम
Basic word
- 1
(superlative of little) smallest in size, amount, degree; less than any other
सबसे कम
- the least expensive
- at least ten
- She chose the least expensive hotel near the station.
+ 2 more examples
- You should at least call to tell them you will be late.
- It is the least I can do to thank you.
Synonyms smallest minimum slightest fewest
Opposite most greatest
§Structures (grammar patterns) 6
the least + uncountable noun
As a determiner, least means the smallest amount of: the least money, the least time.
Determiner के रूप में 'least' का अर्थ सबसे कम मात्रा का है: the least money, the least time।
- He had the least time to prepare.
- She did the least work in the group.
the least + adjective (adverb)
The least + adjective gives the opposite of the most: the least expensive, the least important.
'The least + adjective' 'the most' का विपरीत देता है: the least expensive, the least important।
- This is the least expensive phone in the shop.
at least / not in the least
At least means no less than; not in the least means not at all.
'At least' का अर्थ कम से कम और 'not in the least' का अर्थ बिल्कुल नहीं है।
- Study for at least two hours.
- I am not in the least worried.
least of all / not least
Least of all means especially not; not least means especially.
'Least of all' का अर्थ ख़ासकर नहीं और 'not least' का अर्थ ख़ासकर है।
- Nobody, least of all Radhika, expected the news.
less vs least
Less compares two things; least compares three or more.
'Less' दो चीज़ों की तुलना करता है; 'least' तीन या अधिक की।
- This route is less crowded; that one is the least crowded.
to say the least
This phrase understates: it means that the truth is stronger than what you say.
यह वाक्यांश कम करके कहता है: सच्चाई कही गई बात से अधिक तीव्र है।
- The food was disappointing, to say the least.
+Collocations 5
at least + number
fivean houra weektwo peopleten marks
- You need at least ten marks to pass.
the least + noun
effortmoneyinterestnoisedoubt
- She made the least noise.
not in the least
surprisedworriedafraidinterestedtired
- He was not in the least tired.
to say the least
unusualoddrudedisappointingstrange
- His answer was strange, to say the least.
least + adjective
likelyimportantexpensivecrowdeduseful
- That is the least likely answer.
“More examples 7
- At least take a bottle of water with you.
कम से कम अपने साथ पानी की बोतल तो ले लीजिए।
- The least you can do is say sorry.
आप कम से कम इतना तो कर सकते हैं कि क्षमा माँग लें।
- Of all the options, this is the least costly.
सभी विकल्पों में यह सबसे कम महँगा है।
- I do not mind in the least if you come late.
यदि आप देर से आएँ तो मुझे बिल्कुल बुरा नहीं लगेगा।
- Radhika scored the least in maths but the highest in English.
राधिका के गणित में सबसे कम अंक आए, पर English में सबसे अधिक।
- The least he could do was to return the borrowed notes.
वह कम से कम इतना तो कर सकता था कि उधार लिए नोट्स लौटा देता।
- Not least, the festival gave the villagers a chance to meet.
ख़ासकर, उत्सव ने गाँव वालों को मिलने का अवसर दिया।
!Common mistakes 2
✗ He is the least intelligent of the two.
✓ He is the less intelligent of the two.
For two things use less; least is for three or more.
दो चीज़ों के लिए 'less' और तीन या अधिक के लिए 'least' प्रयुक्त होता है।
✗ I am not least worried.
✓ I am not in the least worried.
The fixed phrase is not in the least.
निश्चित वाक्यांश 'not in the least' है।
¶Idioms 4
at least
not less than; anyway; even if nothing else is true
कम से कम
- It will cost at least a lakh.
- At least you tried.
not in the least
not at all
बिल्कुल भी नहीं
- I'm not in the least tired.
- She wasn't in the least worried.
least of all
especially not
ख़ासकर (वह) तो बिल्कुल नहीं
- No one believed him, least of all his wife.
- I don't want to hurt anyone, least of all you.
not least
especially
ख़ासकर, विशेष रूप से
- The plan was criticised, not least by the students.
- Many people helped, not least Radhika.
§Grammar and usage
Little, less, least; the least + adjective ('the least difficult').
Little, less, least; the least + adjective ('the least difficult')।
“Collocations, idioms and sayings
At least (not less than; anyway: 'at least 50 people'), not in the least (not at all), last but not least (said before the last item in a list to show it is still important), to say the least (used to show that something is worse than you are saying), least of all (especially not).
Idioms बहुत पूछे जाते हैं: at least (कम से कम; ख़ैर: 'at least 50 people'), not in the least (बिलकुल नहीं), last but not least (सूची की अंतिम चीज़ से पहले यह दिखाने के लिए कि वह भी महत्वपूर्ण है), to say the least (स्थिति कही गई से बदतर दिखाने के लिए, कम से कम कहें तो), least of all (विशेषकर नहीं)।