lesser

lesser — adjective

1. used to describe a person or thing that is smaller, lower in quality, or less im

1.形容詞B1
釋義

used to describe a person or thing that is smaller, lower in quality, or less important when compared with others in the same group.

例句

Padma chose the lesser amount and donated the rest to a local charity.

collocation: lesser amount

A lesser-known artist from Seoul won the international design prize this year.

common compound: lesser-known

同義詞
  • smaller

    more general and neutral; can be used after linking verbs ('this is smaller')

  • minor

    focuses on lower importance rather than physical size

  • secondary

    suggests lower priority rather than lower quality or amount

反義詞
  • greater

    larger size, amount, or importance

  • major

    more important or significant

  • primary

    highest in importance or rank

文法句型

lesser + noun

用法筆記

Only used before a noun (attributive position). Unlike 'less', 'lesser' cannot follow a linking verb — you cannot say 'this amount is lesser' but you can say 'this is a lesser amount.'

常見錯誤

❌This amount is lesser than that one.
✅This is a lesser amount than that one.
💡'lesser' is used before nouns, not after linking verbs like 'is.'
❌I have lesser time than you.
✅I have less time than you.
💡For quantities, use 'less' as a determiner; 'lesser' is only for describing nouns directly.

2. used before plural nouns describing people to show that someone with less streng

2.形容詞B2
釋義

used before plural nouns describing people to show that someone with less strength, courage, or skill would have failed where a more capable person succeeded.

例句

Selim ran the marathon in three hours — lesser runners would have stopped long before.

pattern: lesser + plural people noun + would have + past participle

Élise dealt with the angry customer calmly; a lesser person would have lost their temper.

pattern: a lesser person + would have + past participle

同義詞
  • weaker

    more direct and common; works for both people and things

  • ordinary

    neutral, without the judgmental tone; mainly for people

反義詞
  • greater

    more capable, stronger, or more skilled

文法句型

lesser + plural noun referring to people

用法筆記

Always appears before a noun describing a person or group. The pattern contrasts someone with an admirable quality against a hypothetical version with less of that quality. The second clause typically uses 'would have' to show a different outcome.

常見錯誤

❌A lesser car would not survive this road.
✅A weaker car would not survive this road.
💡This sense only applies to people and their qualities, not to objects.
❌Lesser people would give up.
✅Lesser people would have given up.
💡The pattern typically uses 'would have' (past hypothetical) rather than simple 'would.'

lesser — adverb