more or less

adverb

1
: to a varying or undetermined extent or degree : somewhat
they were more or less willing to help
2
: with small variations : approximately
contains 16 acres more or less

Examples of more or less in a Sentence

the lot is 16 acres more or less most couples in the survey said that they were more or less happy in their marriage
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The few songs that remain more or less untouched, while closer to the Gilbert and Sullivan original, stick out and feel sluggish, outdated, and oddly enough, out of place. Christian Lewis, Variety, 25 Apr. 2025 Although the private sector was more or less profitable under ISI, those profits depended mostly on state favors, not on market gains. Javier Corrales, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025 Whereas the other examples at places like Harvard and Columbia is the Trump administration more or less trying to bring higher education to heel, by making an example of some of the most visible universities, where there have been the most visible pro-Palestinian campus protests over the last year. Devan Schwartz, Vox, 22 Apr. 2025 But Thurston seemed to have bigger ambitions than running a stable of small magazines that more or less broke even. Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for more or less

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of more or less was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“More or less.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/more%20or%20less. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

more or less

adverb
1
: to a varying or uncertain degree : somewhat
they were more or less willing to help
2
: with small variations : approximately
contains 16 acres more or less
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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