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Lest
/lɛst/
For fear that; that not; in order to prevent something from happening; in case.
📖 Definitions of "Lest"
conjunction
- 1
For fear that; that not; in order to prevent something from happening; in case.
"He won’t go outside, lest he be eaten by those ravenous eagles."
- 2
(after certain expressions denoting fear or apprehension) that (without the negative particle; introduces the reason for an emotion.)
"I am afraid lest I revealed too much."
💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Lest"
Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| avoidverb | (transitive) To keep away from; to keep clear of; to stay away from. |
| beforenoun | At an earlier time. |
| boglesnoun | A town in Grenada. |
| elsenoun | (postpositive, used only with indefinite or interrogative pronouns) Other; in addition to previously mentioned items. |
| leastnoun | In the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all others. |
| unless | the final novel by Canadian writer Carol Shields, first published by Fourth Estate, an imprint of HarperCollins in 2002. |
| guarding against | — |
| in case | if there happens to be need |
| for fear that | — |
| preventingverb | (transitive) To stop (an outcome); to keep from (doing something). |
| avoidingnoun | Avoidance. |
| warding offnoun | (lacrosse) The technical foul called when an offensive player in possession of the ball uses his hands and/or forearm to push a defender away. |
| otherwise | (conjunctive) In different circumstances; or else. |
| or else | in place of, or as an alternative to |
| against | — |
| barringnoun | The exclusion of someone; blackballing. |
| cannot | Can not (be unable to). |
| accursed | (prenominal) Hateful; detestable, loathsome. |
| pharisaical | (chiefly Christianity) Emphasizing the observance of ritual or practice over the meaning; self-righteous, hypocritical. |
| sheeplike | Resembling a sheep: docile or uncomplaining, or willing to follow a leader blindly. |
⚡ Words Strongly Associated with "Lest"
These words statistically appear in the same text as "lest" (Google Books Ngrams).
🎨 Adjectives for "Lest"
Popular adjectives used to describe this word in books.
🏷️ Nouns for "Lest"
Common nouns this word is used to describe.
📝 Common Phrases with "Lest"
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