Word · Frequency #2012
least
最小量；最低程度；最起码
The smallest possible amount or degree; a minimum.
- 1.
Preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little; the lowest-ranking or most insignificant person or (sometimes) group of people.
用于“the”后:little的最高级,意为最小的；地位最低或最不重要的人(或群体)。
- 2.
Something of the smallest possible extent; an indivisible unit; a minimum.
最小可能范围的事物；不可分割的单位；最小值。
最不重要的人；最微不足道的人（或群体）；用于“the”后:little的最高级,意为最小的；地位最低或最不重要的人(或群体)。；最小可能范围的事物；不可分割的单位；最小值。；最少；最小
In use
He did the least of the work.
She earned the least among her siblings.
We should focus on the least of our problems first.
the least (of sth)
He chose the least of the options.
他选了选项中最小量的一个。
at least
You should read at least one book per month.
你应该每月至少读一本书。
least of all
常用于否定句后，强调最不某事。
I don't like spicy food, least of all Sichuan cuisine.
我不喜欢辛辣食物，尤其是川菜。
Connections
Collocations
- the least of
- 最不重要的
- Money is the least of my worries right now.钱现在是我最不担心的事情。
- the least of it
- 最不重要的一部分
- Losing the game was the least of it; the real problem was the injury.输掉比赛是最不重要的事；真正的问题是受伤。
- the least of all
- 在所有之中最不重要
- That's the least of all our problems.那是我们所有问题中最不重要的。
Idioms & figurative uses
- at least
- 至少You should at least try.你至少应该试一试。
- to say the least
- 说得轻巧The situation was chaotic, to say the least.情况非常混乱，说得轻巧。
- least of all
Learner notes
Memory Tip
联想：least 比 less 更少，就是‘最少’。
Context & Register
register: neutral; contexts: 日常对话、书面语; note_zh: 通常用于表示无关紧要的事物，多用于正式或书面语，但在口语中也时有使用。
Grammar Note
作名词时不可数，常与the连用表示最小量，或与of连用表示其中最不重要的。
Pronunciation & Spelling
The listed words share the stressed vowel /iː/ and final /st/, matching 'least'. Be cautious of similar spellings like 'list' (short i sound) that do not rhyme.
High-value vocabulary
该词属于 Oxford 核心词汇，值得优先掌握常见搭配和句型。
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 5，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.