Less vs. Lower — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 25, 2023
Less indicates a smaller amount or degree, often with uncountable nouns. Lower indicates a position or rank beneath something else. Both convey a reduction but are used in different contexts.
Difference Between Less and Lower
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Key Differences
Less is a term commonly utilized to reference a smaller amount or degree, especially when discussing intangible or uncountable items like time, money, or emotions. On the other hand, Lower generally conveys a position or rank that is beneath another, highlighting spatial or hierarchical differences.
When referring to quantities, Less becomes the preferred choice. For instance, when we talk about having less time or less money, "less" fits because time and money, in these contexts, are uncountable. Lower, in contrast, would be more apt for describing levels or positions, such as lower shelves or lower rankings.
When it comes to quality or intensity, Less indicates a diminished or reduced state. Someone might feel less happy or be less interested. Meanwhile, Lower often pertains to physical or hierarchical placement. For example, a plane flying at a lower altitude or a rank lower in hierarchy.
Both Less and Lower play crucial roles in comparative statements. Less usually teams up with uncountable nouns, signaling a decreased amount or degree. Lower, on the other hand, leans into describing inferiority or a position that's not as high, either physically or metaphorically.
Less and Lower are versatile words in the English language. While Less mainly revolves around quantities and degrees, Lower generally indicates an inferior position or rank. Understanding their nuances aids in precise communication.
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Comparison Chart
Usage with Nouns
Pairs with uncountable nouns (less time, less sugar).
Pairs with countable nouns (lower grades, lower steps).
Indication
Refers to a smaller amount or degree.
Refers to an inferior position or rank.
Comparative Use
Shows decreased quantity or degree (less important).
Shows inferiority in position or level (lower level).
Quality/Intensity
Denotes reduced intensity (less excited).
Rarely used for intensity; denotes position (lower shelf).
Physical/Hierarchical
Generally not used for physical positioning.
Used to describe physical or hierarchical positioning.
Compare with Definitions
Less
Indicating reduced intensity or degree.
She's less interested in the topic now.
Lower
Describing a position beneath another.
The sun sank lower in the sky.
Less
Comparing to express inferiority in quantity or degree.
This cake has less sugar than that one.
Lower
Indicating inferior rank or position.
He holds a lower rank in the company.
Less
Not as great in amount or quantity
Had less time to spend with the family.
Lower
Expressing reduced quality or value.
This product is of lower quality.
Less
Lower in importance, esteem, or rank
No less a person than the ambassador.
Lower
To look angry, sullen, or threatening.
Less
Consisting of a smaller number.
Lower
To appear dark or stormy, as the sky.
Less
With the deduction of; minus
Five less two is three.
Lower
To let, bring, or move down to a lower level.
Less
To a smaller extent, degree, or frequency
Less happy.
Less expensive.
Lower
To reduce in value, degree, or quality.
Less
A smaller amount
She received less than she asked for.
Lower
To weaken; undermine
Lower one's energy.
Less
Something not as important as something else
People have been punished for less.
Lower
To reduce in standing or respect.
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.
Lower
To move down
Her hand lowered.
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.
Lower
To become less; diminish
The temperature has lowered gradually this month.
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.
Lower
A threatening, sullen, or angry look.
Less
(Now chiefly of numbers or dimensions) little; of inferior size, degree or extent; smaller, lesser.
Lower
A dark or stormy appearance
The lower of thunderheads.
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.
Lower
Having little relative height; not high or tall
A low wall.
Less
Fewer; a smaller number of.
There are less people here now.
Now there are three less green bottles hanging on the wall.
Lower
Rising only slightly above surrounding surfaces
A low hill.
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.
Lower
Near to the ground or the horizon
The low clouds threaten rain. The sun is low.
Less
(archaic) To make less; to lessen.
Lower
Situated or placed below normal height
A low lighting fixture.
Less
(archaic) Lesser; smaller.
Lower
Situated below the surrounding surfaces
Water standing in low spots.
Less
A smaller amount or quantity.
Less is better.
I have less to do today than yesterday.
Lower
Of less than usual or average depth; shallow
The river is low.
Less
Unless
Lower
Cut to show the wearer's neck and chest; décolleté
A low neckline.
Less
Unless.
Lower
Close or closer to a reference point
Was low in the offensive zone, near the goal.
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.
Lower
(Linguistics) Produced with part or all of the tongue depressed, as a, pronounced (ä), in father. Used of vowels.
Less
Not so much; in a smaller or lower degree; as, less bright or loud; less beautiful.
Lower
Below average in degree, intensity, or amount
A low temperature.
Less
A smaller portion or quantity.
The children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.
Lower
Below an average or a standard
Low wages.
A low level of communication.
Less
The inferior, younger, or smaller.
The less is blessed of the better.
Lower
Ranked near the beginning of an ascending series or scale
A low number.
A low grade of oil.
Less
To make less; to lessen.
Lower
Relating to or being latitudes nearest to the equator.
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
Lower
Relatively small. Used of a cost, price, or other value
A low fee.
A low income.
Less
(usually preceded by `no') lower in quality;
No less than perfect
Lower
Not loud; soft
A low murmur.
Less
(usually preceded by `no') lower in esteem;
No less a person than the king himself
Lower
Having a pitch corresponding to a relatively small number of sound-wave cycles per second.
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
Lower
Below others in status or rank; lowly
Of low birth.
Less
Used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs;
Less interesting
Less expensive
Less quickly
Lower
Violating standards of morality or decency; base
A low stunt to pull. ].
Less
Comparative of little;
She walks less than she should
He works less these days
Lower
Below another in rank, position, or authority.
Less
Referring to a smaller quantity or amount.
I have less money than I did yesterday.
Lower
Physically situated below a similar or comparable thing
A lower shelf.
Less
Used to denote a diminished frequency.
He visits less often these days.
Lower
Lower Geology & Archaeology Relating to or being an earlier or older division of the period named.
Less
Indicating the absence or lack of something.
Less talk, more action!
Lower
(Biology) Less complex in organization or having traits similar to those of organisms that evolved earlier in the history of life on Earth.
Lower
Denoting the larger and usually more representative house of a bicameral legislature.
Lower
Bottom; more towards the bottom than the middle of an object
Lower
Situated on lower ground, nearer a coast, or more southerly.
Lower Manhattan
Lower Burgundy
Lower
Older
Lower
(transitive) To let descend by its own weight, as something suspended; to let down
Lower a bucket into a well
To lower a sail of a boat
Lower
(transitive) to pull down
To lower a flag
Lower
(transitive) To reduce the height of
Lower a fence or wall
Lower a chimney or turret
Lower
(transitive) To depress as to direction
Lower the aim of a gun
Lower
(transitive) To make less elevated
To lower one's ambition, aspirations, or hopes
Lower
(transitive) To reduce the degree, intensity, strength, etc., of
Lower the temperature
Lower one's vitality
Lower distilled liquors
Lower
(transitive) To bring down; to humble
Lower one's pride
Lower
(reflexive) (lower oneself) To humble oneself; to do something one considers to be beneath one's dignity.
I could never lower myself enough to buy second-hand clothes.
Lower
(transitive) To reduce (something) in value, amount, etc.
Lower the price of goods
Lower the interest rate
Lower
(intransitive) To fall; to sink; to grow less; to diminish; to decrease
The river lowered as rapidly as it rose.
Lower
(intransitive) To decrease in value, amount, etc.
Lower
To reduce operations to single machine instructions, as part of compilation of a program.
Lower
Alternative spelling of lour
Lower
To let descend by its own weight, as something suspended; to let down; as, to lower a bucket into a well; to lower a sail or a boat; sometimes, to pull down; as, to lower a flag.
Lowered softly with a threefold cord of loveDown to a silent grave.
Lower
To reduce the height of; as, to lower a fence or wall; to lower a chimney or turret.
Lower
To depress as to direction; as, to lower the aim of a gun; to make less elevated as to object; as, to lower one's ambition, aspirations, or hopes.
Lower
To reduce the degree, intensity, strength, etc., of; as, to lower the temperature of anything; to lower one's vitality; to lower distilled liquors.
Lower
To bring down; to humble; as, to lower one's pride.
Lower
To reduce in value, amount, etc.; as, to lower the price of goods, the rate of interest, etc.
Lower
To fall; to sink; to grow less; to diminish; to decrease; as, the river lowered as rapidly as it rose.
Lower
To be dark, gloomy, and threatening, as clouds; to be covered with dark and threatening clouds, as the sky; to show threatening signs of approach, as a tempest.
All the clouds that lowered upon our house.
Lower
To frown; to look sullen.
But sullen discontent sat lowering on her face.
Lower
Cloudiness; gloominess.
Lower
A frowning; sullenness.
Lower
The lower of two berths
Lower
Move something or somebody to a lower position;
Take down the vase from the shelf
Lower
Set lower;
Lower a rating
Lower expectations
Lower
Cause to drop or sink;
The lack of rain had depressed the water level in the reservoir
Lower
Make lower or quieter;
Turn down the volume of a radio
Lower
Look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
Lower
(usually preceded by `no') lower in esteem;
No less a person than the king himself
Lower
Inferior in rank or status;
The junior faculty
A lowly corporal
Petty officialdom
A subordinate functionary
Lower
The bottom one of two;
He chose the lower number
Lower
Of the underworld;
Nether regions
Lower
To reduce or decrease.
They decided to lower the price.
Lower
Describing a sound pitch that's deep or not as high.
He spoke in a lower voice.
Common Curiosities
Can "lower" be used as a verb?
Yes, "lower" can be a verb meaning to reduce or bring down.
Is "less" always about quantity?
Mostly, but "less" can also indicate reduced intensity or degree.
What's the opposite of "lower" in terms of position?
The opposite of "lower" in terms of position is "higher."
Can I say "less people"?
While commonly heard, it's more grammatically correct to say "fewer people." Use "less" for uncountable quantities.
Is "lowercase" related to "lower"?
Yes, "lowercase" refers to small letters, as opposed to capital letters, denoting their "lower" visual position.
Is "less" only used with uncountable nouns?
Generally, "less" is used with uncountable nouns, but it can sometimes be seen with countables in informal contexts.
Is "lesser" the same as "less"?
"Lesser" is the comparative form of "less" and often describes inferiority.
Can "less" be used in positive contexts?
Absolutely! "Less is more" is a popular saying emphasizing simplicity.
What is the noun form of "less"?
The noun form is "lesser."
Can "less" and "lower" be used interchangeably?
No, they have distinct uses. "Less" usually pertains to quantity or degree, while "lower" refers to position or rank.
Which is correct: "less than" or "lower than"?
Both can be correct. Use "less than" for amounts and "lower than" for positions or rankings.
What's the opposite of "less" in terms of quantity?
The opposite of "less" in terms of quantity is "more."
Which word is more versatile, "less" or "lower"?
Both are versatile but in different contexts. "Less" deals with quantities and degrees, and "lower" with positions and ranks.
Can "lower" refer to sound pitch?
Yes, a "lower" sound pitch means it's deeper or not as high.
Can "lower" describe hierarchy?
Yes, "lower" can describe a position not as high in a hierarchy.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
