lest

[ lest ]

conjunction

1. 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.

2. that (used after words expressing fear, danger, etc.):

   There was danger lest the plan become known.

lest

/ lɛst /

conjunction

1. so as to prevent any possibility that

   he fled the country lest he be captured and imprisoned

2. 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

Origin of lest¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English leste, contraction of the lesse the, thi les the; late Old English the lǣste, earlier thȳ lǣs the, literally, “whereby less that” ( thȳ instrumental case of the demonstrative and relative pronoun, lǣs less, the conjunction)

Word History and Origins

Origin of lest¹

Old English the lǣste, earlier thӯ lǣs the, literally: whereby less that

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. lest we forget. lest we forget.

Example Sentences

Lest you require a reminder, most modern scientific experiments are constructed using the scientific method.

From Slate

Doing so is a pragmatic as well as a moral necessity lest the voters’ patience and generosity run out.

From Los Angeles Times

It's a drum he beats repeatedly, arguing that "patriots" — meaning, of course, white men — are unwilling to serve lest they be exposed to "CRT, DEI nonsense, all the gender nonsense."

From Salon

Lest anyone think the bowling event is just a party, Trunk — who also bowls in the tournament — says some of the participants take the competition very seriously.

From Los Angeles Times

Our media is tuned to telling a very conventional and predictable story about the United States of America, and that story does not allow for true examinations of those things lest the media actually engage in critical self-reflection and ask really hard questions about itself and its role in these great problems.

From Salon