lowest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lowest" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the least amount, degree, or level of something in a comparative context. Example: "This is the lowest price we can offer for the product."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Lifestyle

Politics

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Sales of ovens and stoves are on pace to be at their lowest level since 1992.

The New York Times

He was a Dalit, from the lowest rung of the caste hierarchy that still defines the lives, and sometimes the deaths, of millions of people in the emerging economic power.

The Guardian

From the million-pound apartments of Deansgate to the red-brick terraces of Moston, so many tens of thousands of people here didn't bother to vote at the last election that Lucy Powell, the incumbent Labour MP, was elected in a 2012 byelection with just 12% support in the lowest parliamentary poll turn out since 1945.

The Guardian

As a result, we estimate that around one quarter of graduates on the lowest incomes will actually pay back less than under the current system.

The Guardian

Nick Clegg's Liberal Democrats has sunk to 6% – the lowest proportion of the vote recorded by Opinium for the party.

The Guardian

"We gotta stop clicking on the lowest common denominator, bottom feeding link bait," Kohn said.

The Guardian

It was the lowest thing I had ever done.

The Guardian

His lowest points have been "pretty much feeling like ending it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Labour only had a clear lead over the Conservatives among 18- to 34-year-olds, voters in social class DE (the "semi-skilled and unskilled manual occupations, unemployed and lowest grade occupations"), among private and social renters, and black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) voters.

The Guardian

And fairness means that those with the least should pay less, with those on the lowest incomes paying nothing at all".

The Guardian

Yet football has been shown in studies to have the lowest rate of "perceived exertion" – a mere 3.9 out of 10 – lower than jogging and fitness training.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lowest", ensure you're making a clear comparison. Specify what you're comparing to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "the lowest price", say "the lowest price compared to competitors".

Common error

Avoid using "lowest" without a clear reference point. Saying "This is the lowest" is incomplete. Instead, provide context: "This is the "lowest" temperature we've seen this winter".

Linguistic Context

The word "lowest" functions primarily as a superlative adjective. It modifies a noun to indicate that it is at the minimum level or degree compared to others. This aligns with Ludwig's analysis, highlighting its role in comparative descriptions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Lifestyle

5%

Politics

3%

Sports

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "lowest" functions as a superlative adjective, denoting the minimum level or degree of something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and highlights its frequent use across diverse contexts, notably in news, business, and lifestyle domains. When employing "lowest", ensure clear context and avoid ambiguity by specifying what is being compared. Alternatives like "minimum" or "least" can offer semantic flexibility. As Ludwig shows, "lowest" is a versatile term for precise comparative descriptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minimum

Indicates the smallest quantity or degree possible or recorded.

least

Denotes the smallest amount, quantity, or degree.

bottommost

Refers to being in the lowest position.

record low

Signifies the lowest value ever recorded.

rock bottom

Implies the absolute lowest point, often in a negative context.

nethermost

Indicates the farthest down or the lowest.

nadir

The lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization.

weakest

Signifies the least strong or effective.

smallest

Refers to the least in size or amount.

cheapest

Indicates the least expensive option.

FAQs

How can I use "lowest" in a sentence?

The word "lowest" is used to describe something that is at the minimum level or degree. For example, "This is the "lowest" price we can offer" or "The company's profits were at their "lowest" this quarter".

What are some alternatives to using the word "lowest"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "minimum", "least", or "bottommost" to convey a similar meaning.

When is it appropriate to use "lowest" in formal writing?

The word "lowest" is appropriate in formal writing when you need to precisely describe a minimum value or degree. It's suitable for reports, analyses, and other professional documents where accuracy is important.

What's the difference between "lowest" and "least"?

"Lowest" typically refers to a position or level, while "least" refers to a quantity or degree. For example, "the "lowest" point" versus "the "least" amount of effort".