at least

phrase

Synonyms of at leastnext
1
: at the minimum
at least once a week
2
: in any case
at least you have a choice

Examples of at least in a Sentence

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.
It is considered unsafe to swim in the rivers for at least 48 hours after a storm. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 5 July 2026 If the shrub was diseased or large roots remain in the soil, waiting at least six months to a year is recommended. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 July 2026 Add the question marks surrounding Rodón to the fact that Fried (elbow bone bruise) doesn’t seem likely to return for at least a few more weeks. — Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 5 July 2026 That story is preserved by the indigenous populations who have called the vast landscape home for at least 12,000 years. — Eric Noll, ABC News, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for at least

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of at least was before the 12th century

Rhymes for at least

See All Rhymes for at least

Browse Nearby Words

atle
at least
at leisure
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“At least.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20least. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on at least

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for at least

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All