Less vs. Lower: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on September 28, 2023
"Less" denotes a reduced amount or degree, while "Lower" refers to a position or rank beneath another.
Key Differences
"Less" and "Lower" both indicate reduction or diminution, yet they apply to different contexts and are used to convey distinct nuances.
"Less" is a versatile term, often pointing to a decreased quantity, degree, or extent. For instance, one might say they want to eat less sugar for health reasons. "Lower", on the other hand, leans towards a spatial or hierarchical context, such as a lower shelf or a lower rank in an organization.
In mathematics, "Less" is used to highlight a smaller number or amount, like asserting that ten is less than twenty. "Lower" doesn't usually play a direct role in arithmetic but can be utilized to describe positions, as in lower and upper bounds in calculus.
In everyday language, "Less" might be used to emphasize a desire to minimize something, like spending less money or wasting less time. Contrastingly, "Lower" often describes things physically beneath others, or of a lesser status, such as the lower deck of a ship or the lower class.
In essence, while "Less" and "Lower" can sometimes be used interchangeably, they typically carry unique implications. "Less" is quantitative, while "Lower" is positional or hierarchical.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Refers to a reduced amount or degree
Pertains to a position or rank beneath another
Contextual Usage
Quantity, degree, or extent
Position, hierarchy, or status
Grammatical Role
Often an adjective or adverb
Typically an adjective or verb
Examples
Less sugar, less often
Lower shelf, lower the price
Related Expressions
Less than, no less than
Lower than, at a lower level
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Less and Lower Definitions
Less
A smaller amount or degree.
He earned less this month.
Lower
At or to a lesser position or rank.
The lower tier of the stadium.
Less
Not as frequently.
We meet less often nowadays.
Lower
Physically beneath.
The sun sank lower in the sky.
Less
Not as great in amount or quantity
Had less time to spend with the family.
Lower
Of lesser importance or dignity.
A position of lower status.
Less
Lower in importance, esteem, or rank
No less a person than the ambassador.
Lower
To move or cause to move downward.
Lower the blinds.
Less
Consisting of a smaller number.
Lower
To look angry, sullen, or threatening.
Less
With the deduction of; minus
Five less two is three.
Lower
To appear dark or stormy, as the sky.
Less
To a smaller extent, degree, or frequency
Less happy.
Less expensive.
Lower
To let, bring, or move down to a lower level.
Less
A smaller amount
She received less than she asked for.
Lower
To reduce in value, degree, or quality.
Less
Something not as important as something else
People have been punished for less.
Lower
To weaken; undermine
Lower one's energy.
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 reduce in standing or respect.
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 move down
Her hand lowered.
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
To become less; diminish
The temperature has lowered gradually this month.
Less
(Now chiefly of numbers or dimensions) little; of inferior size, degree or extent; smaller, lesser.
Lower
A threatening, sullen, or angry look.
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
A dark or stormy appearance
The lower of thunderheads.
Less
Fewer; a smaller number of.
There are less people here now.
Now there are three less green bottles hanging on the wall.
Lower
Having little relative height; not high or tall
A low wall.
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
Rising only slightly above surrounding surfaces
A low hill.
Less
(archaic) To make less; to lessen.
Lower
Near to the ground or the horizon
The low clouds threaten rain. The sun is low.
Less
(archaic) Lesser; smaller.
Lower
Situated or placed below normal height
A low lighting fixture.
Less
A smaller amount or quantity.
Less is better.
I have less to do today than yesterday.
Lower
Situated below the surrounding surfaces
Water standing in low spots.
Less
Unless
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
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
Close or closer to a reference point
Was low in the offensive zone, near the goal.
Less
Not so much; in a smaller or lower degree; as, less bright or loud; less beautiful.
Lower
(Linguistics) Produced with part or all of the tongue depressed, as a, pronounced (ä), in father. Used of vowels.
Less
A smaller portion or quantity.
The children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.
Lower
Below average in degree, intensity, or amount
A low temperature.
Less
The inferior, younger, or smaller.
The less is blessed of the better.
Lower
Below an average or a standard
Low wages.
A low level of communication.
Less
To make less; to lessen.
Lower
Ranked near the beginning of an ascending series or scale
A low number.
A low grade of oil.
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
Relating to or being latitudes nearest to the equator.
Less
(usually preceded by `no') lower in quality;
No less than perfect
Lower
Relatively small. Used of a cost, price, or other value
A low fee.
A low income.
Less
(usually preceded by `no') lower in esteem;
No less a person than the king himself
Lower
Not loud; soft
A low murmur.
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
Having a pitch corresponding to a relatively small number of sound-wave cycles per second.
Less
Used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs;
Less interesting
Less expensive
Less quickly
Lower
Below others in status or rank; lowly
Of low birth.
Less
Comparative of little;
She walks less than she should
He works less these days
Lower
Violating standards of morality or decency; base
A low stunt to pull. ].
Less
Not as much.
I have less patience than before.
Lower
Below another in rank, position, or authority.
Less
To a smaller extent.
She is less interested in the subject.
Lower
Physically situated below a similar or comparable thing
A lower shelf.
Less
Indicating subtraction or reduction.
The cost is $100, less the discount.
Lower
Lower Geology & Archaeology Relating to or being an earlier or older division of the period named.
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 in amount, degree, or value.
The store decided to lower its prices.
FAQs
Can "Less" be used in terms of frequency?
Yes, like in "less often" or "less regularly".
Does "Lower" always mean "inferior"?
No, it can be neutral, merely indicating position.
Can "Less" describe quality?
Not directly, but it can suggest reduced degree or extent.
Is "Lower" primarily spatial?
Often, but it can also refer to status or rank.
How is "Less" used mathematically?
It denotes a smaller number or amount.
Is "Lower" a verb?
Yes, like in "lower the flag" or "lower expectations".
How does "Less" relate to "fewer"?
"Less" is used for uncountable quantities, "fewer" for countable.
Is "Less" the opposite of "more"?
Generally, yes.
Are "Less" and "Lower" interchangeable?
Occasionally, but they often have distinct implications.
Can "Lower" describe mood?
Yes, as in "a lower mood" or "feeling low".
Can "Lower" indicate a decrease in value?
Yes, like "lower the price" or "lowered value".
Which is more general in usage?
"Less" is more versatile, while "Lower" is often specific to position or rank.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
