Lest
conjunction
Used to introduce a possibility of something bad happening, and to say someone must do or not do something to prevent it.
He is always careful when he drives, lest he has an accident.
Often appears as...
- lest we forget
- lest he forgets
Usage tips
Formal
conjunction
Used as a formal way of saying 'in order to prevent something from happening'.
She held her brother's hand tightly lest he run into the street.
Often appears as...
- lest it fall
- lest she be
Usage tips
Formal
conjunction
Used to introduce a possibility of something bad happening, and to say someone must do or not do something to prevent it.
He is always careful when he drives, lest he has an accident.
Often appears as...
- lest we forget
- lest he forgets
Usage tips
Formal
conjunction
Used as a formal way of saying 'in order to prevent something from happening'.
She held her brother's hand tightly lest he run into the street.
Often appears as...
- lest it fall
- lest she be
Usage tips
Formal
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Cautionary Use
Use 'lest' when advising caution to avoid negative outcomes.
Speak softly lest you wake the baby.
Pro Tip 2/3Triggering Action
'Lest' often precedes actions taken to prevent an unwanted scenario.
Save your work regularly, lest the computer crashes.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Intensity
Using 'lest' can add a sense of urgency or importance to the caution.
Stay silent, lest we are discovered.
Pro Tip 1/3Cautionary Use
Use 'lest' when advising caution to avoid negative outcomes.
Speak softly lest you wake the baby.
Pro Tip 2/3Triggering Action
'Lest' often precedes actions taken to prevent an unwanted scenario.
Save your work regularly, lest the computer crashes.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Intensity
Using 'lest' can add a sense of urgency or importance to the caution.
Stay silent, lest we are discovered.
Pro Tip 1/3Cautionary Use
Use 'lest' when advising caution to avoid negative outcomes.
Speak softly lest you wake the baby.
Pro Tip 2/3Triggering Action
'Lest' often precedes actions taken to prevent an unwanted scenario.
Save your work regularly, lest the computer crashes.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Intensity
Using 'lest' can add a sense of urgency or importance to the caution.
Stay silent, lest we are discovered.
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Video examples
Do Shark Stories Help...
a group of boys were cooling off there on that hot july day including an eleven-year-old kid named lester stillwell who was attacked in front of his friends they ran to get help from a man named stanley fisher who dove in to find lester's body but fischer was also attacked he looked down grabbed his
Video examples
These Birds Build Big...
ornithologists are helpful folk and when they name a bird the sociable weaver you can tell that it's going to be a social creature and one that likes to weave large nests only the size of sparrows these birds can build enormous nests reaching 10 feet tall but lest you think
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 186 PIPE...
very fertile bursting return to southern jr. on patrol his absence while feeding has been prolonged and he was fearful he established his presence lest some interloper arrived and the Syrian youth Timbers in need of another deep astoundingly for a leopard this age his
Video examples
Horse Logging PIPE National...
weigh up to ten thousand because logging with animals is considered environmentally friendly it stayed alive despite technology yeah it's just a lot of fun and I grew up around it doing it all my life Lester has never been able to trade in
Video examples
The Aztecs: From Empire...
it would make a difference for this raphael has an unorthodox solution let's have a mexicans in one one side of the border writing stories and have people in the states in the other side of the world no and lest that stories will write
Video examples
The physics of playing...
to create effects like distortion, overdrive, wah-wah, delay and flanger. And lest you think that the physics of music is only useful for entertainment, consider this. Some physicists think that everything in the universe
Video examples
How misused modifiers...
And lest you think this is a bit far-fetched, confusing headlines like this appear all the time. Modifiers are words, phrases, and clauses that add information about other parts of a sentence, which is usually helpful.
Video examples
Science can answer moral...
We're not talking about Connecticut. And the rationale for this behavior is explicitly religious. The creator of the universe himself has told us not to spare the rod, lest we spoil the child --
Video examples
Rediscovering ourselves...
the list goes on and lest we forget elephants in spite of the impact on trees are traditionally Africa's greatest tree planters and so I have a question are human beings a keystone
Video examples
Deadly Cousin: The...
often lurk to the side females can live up to three years males only for about six months when it comes to mating males must approach cautiously lest the object of their affections
Video examples
Do Shark Stories Help...
a group of boys were cooling off there on that hot july day including an eleven-year-old kid named lester stillwell who was attacked in front of his friends they ran to get help from a man named stanley fisher who dove in to find lester's body but fischer was also attacked he looked down grabbed his
Video examples
These Birds Build Big...
ornithologists are helpful folk and when they name a bird the sociable weaver you can tell that it's going to be a social creature and one that likes to weave large nests only the size of sparrows these birds can build enormous nests reaching 10 feet tall but lest you think
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 186 PIPE...
very fertile bursting return to southern jr. on patrol his absence while feeding has been prolonged and he was fearful he established his presence lest some interloper arrived and the Syrian youth Timbers in need of another deep astoundingly for a leopard this age his
Video examples
Horse Logging PIPE National...
weigh up to ten thousand because logging with animals is considered environmentally friendly it stayed alive despite technology yeah it's just a lot of fun and I grew up around it doing it all my life Lester has never been able to trade in
Video examples
The Aztecs: From Empire...
it would make a difference for this raphael has an unorthodox solution let's have a mexicans in one one side of the border writing stories and have people in the states in the other side of the world no and lest that stories will write
Video examples
The physics of playing...
to create effects like distortion, overdrive, wah-wah, delay and flanger. And lest you think that the physics of music is only useful for entertainment, consider this. Some physicists think that everything in the universe
Video examples
How misused modifiers...
And lest you think this is a bit far-fetched, confusing headlines like this appear all the time. Modifiers are words, phrases, and clauses that add information about other parts of a sentence, which is usually helpful.
Video examples
Science can answer moral...
We're not talking about Connecticut. And the rationale for this behavior is explicitly religious. The creator of the universe himself has told us not to spare the rod, lest we spoil the child --
Video examples
Rediscovering ourselves...
the list goes on and lest we forget elephants in spite of the impact on trees are traditionally Africa's greatest tree planters and so I have a question are human beings a keystone
Video examples
Deadly Cousin: The...
often lurk to the side females can live up to three years males only for about six months when it comes to mating males must approach cautiously lest the object of their affections
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Isambard K. Brunel
British Inventor
I am opposed to the laying down of rules or conditions to be observed in the construction of bridges lest the progress of improvement tomorrow might be embarrassed or shackled by recording or registering as law the prejudices or errors of today.
Quote examples
Henry Rollins
American Musician
I know that collector types can be a pain in the neck and seem perpetually frozen in time - or at least in their parents' basement - but someone has to look out for the past, lest it slip away forever.
Quote examples
Shah Rukh Khan
Indian Actor
You know, I think we Indians are afraid to show and celebrate our happiness, lest things change around. But I feel that it's okay to be sad and okay to show when you are happy.
Quote examples
Christina Rossetti
British Poet
She gave up beauty in her tender youth, gave all her hope and joy and pleasant ways; she covered up her eyes lest they should gaze on vanity, and chose the bitter truth.
Quote examples
Carl Sandburg
American Poet
Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.
Quote examples
Matthew Henry
English Clergyman
Whatever we have of this world in our hands, our care must be to keep it out of our hearts, lest it come between us and Christ.
Quote examples
Francis Bacon
English Philosopher
Truth is a good dog; but always beware of barking too close to the heels of an error, lest you get your brains kicked out.
Quote examples
Stanislaus I
Polish Royalty
Have the courage to face a difficulty lest it kick you harder than you bargain for.
Quote examples
Aesop
Greek Author
Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.
Quote examples
Epictetus
Greek Philosopher
Control thy passions lest they take vengence on thee.
Quote examples
Isambard K. Brunel
British Inventor
I am opposed to the laying down of rules or conditions to be observed in the construction of bridges lest the progress of improvement tomorrow might be embarrassed or shackled by recording or registering as law the prejudices or errors of today.
Quote examples
Henry Rollins
American Musician
I know that collector types can be a pain in the neck and seem perpetually frozen in time - or at least in their parents' basement - but someone has to look out for the past, lest it slip away forever.
Quote examples
Shah Rukh Khan
Indian Actor
You know, I think we Indians are afraid to show and celebrate our happiness, lest things change around. But I feel that it's okay to be sad and okay to show when you are happy.
Quote examples
Christina Rossetti
British Poet
She gave up beauty in her tender youth, gave all her hope and joy and pleasant ways; she covered up her eyes lest they should gaze on vanity, and chose the bitter truth.
Quote examples
Carl Sandburg
American Poet
Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.
Quote examples
Matthew Henry
English Clergyman
Whatever we have of this world in our hands, our care must be to keep it out of our hearts, lest it come between us and Christ.
Quote examples
Francis Bacon
English Philosopher
Truth is a good dog; but always beware of barking too close to the heels of an error, lest you get your brains kicked out.
Quote examples
Stanislaus I
Polish Royalty
Have the courage to face a difficulty lest it kick you harder than you bargain for.
Quote examples
Aesop
Greek Author
Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.
Quote examples
Epictetus
Greek Philosopher
Control thy passions lest they take vengence on thee.
Example 1 of 10
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