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lest
[lest]
conjunction
for fear that; so that (one) should not (used negatively to introduce a clause expressive of an action or occurrence requiring caution).
He kept his notes by his side lest faulty memory lead him astray.
that (used after words expressing fear, danger, etc.).
There was danger lest the plan become known.
lest
/ ɛ /
conjunction
so as to prevent any possibility that
he fled the country lest he be captured and imprisoned
(after verbs or phrases expressing fear, worry, anxiety, etc) for fear that; in case
he was alarmed lest she should find out
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of lest1
Idioms and Phrases
lest we forget. lest we forget.
Example Sentences
Ultimately, lest the bullpen arms become injured and/or ineffective, the manager said, “We’re going to need some depth out of some starters.”
The show is too far removed from its glory days, and Housewives are too tempted to soften their behavior, lest they face the ire of Bravo fans sitting at the edge of their seats, waiting for any reason to publicly call for someone’s removal from the show.
A flurry of executive orders cut federal funding for foreign aid, declared irregular immigration at the border an "invasion," targeted transgender Americans, rescinded diversity, equity and inclusion policies, and threatened universities and humanities institutions with funding cuts lest they comply.
That reserve needs to be consistently refilled, lest we find it depleted.
That reserve needs to be consistently refilled, lest we find it depleted.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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