We use the quantifierleastto talk about quantities, amounts and degree. (The)leastis the superlative form oflittle.
We usethe leastwith different classes of words.
We usethe leastto make the superlative forms of longer adjectives and the majority of adverbs:
Rosalind seems to bethe leastworried about their move.(+ adjective)
The leastenvironmentally damaging power source is also the most expensive.
The machines that worked (the)leastefficiently were replaced.
We usethe leastwith a noun to mean ‘less than all of the others’. We can leave out the noun when it is obvious:
He didthe leastwork of any of us.
We had a quiz. Rory got the most points. Tim gottheleast.(the least points)
We useleastandthe leastwith a verb as an adverb:
None of them worked much, but Karen workedthe least.
Think of the person you’dleastexpect to get the job.
See also:
Comparative and superlative adjectives: form
At least
We useat least(and with more emphasisat the very least) to talk about a minimum number or amount, meaning ‘no less than’:
There wereat leasttwenty people there.
It’ll cost you £3,000at the very least.
We also useat leastto express a minimum of what we expect to happen, usually when we are annoyed about something:
You couldat leasthave phoned me to say you weren’t coming. I waited for ages.
We useat leastto rephrase something we have said, to make it more accurate:
She hasn’t got any children.At least, I don’t think she has.
We also useat leastto introduce something positive in a situation that seems negative:
It’s a shame it’s so cold butat leastit isn’t raining.