than
gb/ðən/ us/ðən/
A2
English
~ 100
mint
A2
1
mint
A1
Usage pattern:
[something] is [adjective/adverb] than [something]
She is taller than her brother.
Magasabb, mint a fiútestvére.
It costs more than I expected.
Többe kerül, mint amire számítottam.
I'd rather stay home than go out.
This book is more interesting than the movie.
He works harder than anyone else I know.
Learner examples
My car is faster than his car.
Az én autóm gyorsabb, mint az övé.
This house is bigger than that one.
Ez a ház nagyobb, mint az.
I am older than my sister.
Apples are cheaper than mangoes.
Today is colder than yesterday.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'than' with 'then'. 'Than' is for comparisons; 'then' refers to time or sequence.
Meaning
Used to compare two things
Collocations
more than
|less than
|better than
|rather than
|other than
Synonyms
compared with (More formal and typically used in written contexts.)
Antonyms
as (Used to show equality rather than difference in comparisons.)
Themes
grammar
|comparison
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
Used to show the second thing in a comparison between two things.
Used to introduce the second part of a comparison, showing difference in degree, quantity, or quality.
Grammar
Dictionary form
than
IPA
GB/ðən/
US/ðən/
Syllables & stress
than (1 syllable)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: than
- Plural: thans
Word family
Forms
thans
noun
Expressions
less than
1/lˈɛs ðən/
fixed phrase
Smaller in number or degree
Not as much as a stated number or amount.
Examples
- It took less than an hour to finish.
- The meal cost less than ten dollars.
more than likely
1/mˈɔɹ ðən lˈaɪkli/
fixed phrase
informal
very probably
Almost certainly; very probably.
Examples
- He’s more than likely to forget his keys again.
- It’s more than likely that they’ll win the game.
more than likely
2/mˈɔɹ ðən lˈaɪkli/
fixed phrase
Very probable or certain
Almost certain to happen.
Examples
- It's more than likely that it will rain tomorrow.
- She’s more than likely going to accept the job offer.
more than meets the eye
1/mˈɔɹ ðən mˈits ðə ˈaɪ/
idiom
hidden complexity beyond appearance
Something is more complicated or interesting than it first appears.
Examples
- There’s more than meets the eye with this project.
- There’s more than meets the eye with this case.
- He seems quiet, but there’s more to him than meets the eye.
- She seems quiet, but there’s more than meets the eye.
no more than
1/nˈoʊ mˈɔɹ ðən/
fixed phrase
equal to or less than stated amount/number
Only; at most a certain amount or number.
Examples
- It will take no more than ten minutes.
- He has no more than $20 left.
no more than
2/nˈoʊ mˈɔɹ ðən/
fixed phrase
At most a certain amount
Not greater than the number or amount said.
Examples
- The trip will take no more than two hours.
- He has no more than $50 left.
rather than
1/ɹˈæðɚ ðən/
fixed phrase
instead of something else
Used to say that one thing is chosen instead of another thing.
Examples
- I chose tea rather than coffee.
- He decided to walk rather than drive.
- He decided to walk rather than take the bus.
- She chose tea rather than coffee.