rather

adverb

rath·er ˈra-t͟hər How to pronounce rather (audio)

ˈrä-,

ˈrə-,

also ˈre-;

interjectionally ˈra-ˈt͟hər,

ˈrä-,

ˈrə-

: with better reason or more propriety : more properly

this you should pity rather than despise

William Shakespeare

: more readily or willingly : preferably

I'd rather not go

would rather read than watch television

—often used interjectionally to express affirmation

: more correctly speaking

my father, or rather my stepfather

: to the contrary : instead

was no better but rather grew worse

Mark 5:26 (Revised Standard Version)

: in some degree : somewhat

it's rather warm

—often used as a mild intensive

spent rather a lot of money

Example Sentences

The movie is a comedy, but rather a dull one. I think the children watch rather too much television. It rather annoyed me that he was late picking me up.

Recent Examples on the Web Some find selling their plants too heart-wrenching and would rather give away their green fortune.

Michelle Chan, WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022 Everything seems to point to an ancient tale that the new Enlightenment society would rather keep out of sight: A bloodthirsty upire – Slavic for vampire – seems to have infiltrated the monastery.

John Hopewell, Variety, 12 Sep. 2022 The brightest star in Boston’s rapidly growing biotech scene isn’t a flashy new player, but rather one of its longest standing companies.

Ryan Cross — The Boston Globe, STAT, 11 Sep. 2022 Things could seem rather heavy at the moment, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2022 My front yard is rather small with a retaining wall.

oregonlive, 10 Sep. 2022 But the fire has not been driven by wind, but rather dry fuel and topography, in the remote, steep river drainages, another commander reported.

Sarah Ravani, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Sep. 2022 The brightest star in Boston’s rapidly growing biotech scene isn’t a flashy new player, but rather one of its longest standing companies.

Ryan Cross, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2022 Based on that, the researchers conclude that homeless encampments and septic tanks, where the caffeine would be expected to dissipate rather quickly by the time pollution enters the river, are not likely sources of the fecal material in the river.

David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2022 See More

单词	rather
释义	rather adverb rath·er ˈra-t͟hər ˈrä-, ˈrə-, also ˈre-; interjectionally ˈra-ˈt͟hər, ˈrä-, ˈrə- 1 : with better reason or more propriety : more properly this you should pity rather than despise William Shakespeare 2 : more readily or willingly : preferably I'd rather not go would rather read than watch television —often used interjectionally to express affirmation 3 : more correctly speaking my father, or rather my stepfather 4 : to the contrary : instead was no better but rather grew worse Mark 5:26 (Revised Standard Version) 5 : in some degree : somewhat it's rather warm —often used as a mild intensive spent rather a lot of money Phrases the rather archaic : the more quickly or readily Synonyms fain first preferably readily soon willingly See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences The movie is a comedy, but rather a dull one. I think the children watch rather too much television. It rather annoyed me that he was late picking me up. Recent Examples on the Web Some find selling their plants too heart-wrenching and would rather give away their green fortune. Michelle Chan, WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022 Everything seems to point to an ancient tale that the new Enlightenment society would rather keep out of sight: A bloodthirsty upire – Slavic for vampire – seems to have infiltrated the monastery. John Hopewell, Variety, 12 Sep. 2022 The brightest star in Boston’s rapidly growing biotech scene isn’t a flashy new player, but rather one of its longest standing companies. Ryan Cross — The Boston Globe, STAT, 11 Sep. 2022 Things could seem rather heavy at the moment, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2022 My front yard is rather small with a retaining wall. oregonlive, 10 Sep. 2022 But the fire has not been driven by wind, but rather dry fuel and topography, in the remote, steep river drainages, another commander reported. Sarah Ravani, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Sep. 2022 The brightest star in Boston’s rapidly growing biotech scene isn’t a flashy new player, but rather one of its longest standing companies. Ryan Cross, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2022 Based on that, the researchers conclude that homeless encampments and septic tanks, where the caffeine would be expected to dissipate rather quickly by the time pollution enters the river, are not likely sources of the fecal material in the river. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English, from Old English hrathor, comparative of hrathe quickly; akin to Old High German rado quickly, Old English hræd quick First Known Use before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing rather rather than sooner rather than later the exception rather than the rule would rather the rather rather than sooner rather than later the exception rather than the rule would rather the rather Kids Definition rather adverb rath·er ˈra-t͟hər 1 : somewhat entry 2 It's a rather cold day. 2 : more willingly I would rather stay home. 3 : more correctly or truly It's just ten minutes away, or rather nine and a half. 4 : instead The meals were not better but rather worse. rather adverb 1 as in preferably by choice or preference I would rather go to the movies than stay at home Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance preferably willingly either instead soon readily alternatively fain alternately first voluntarily optionally wishfully desirably gladly electively obligingly Antonyms & Near Antonyms unwillingly reluctantly involuntarily forcibly willy-nilly 2 as in instead as a substitute don't think of the placement test as torture but rather as a chance to show off how much you know Synonyms & Similar Words instead in lieu first alternatively alternately 3 as in pretty to some degree or extent I say, don't you think that's rather expensive for a hamburger? Synonyms & Similar Words pretty relatively quite fairly somewhat something enough like moderately a little a bit to a degree kind of sort of a tad a mite a touch of sorts slightly after a sort kindly vaguely decently little tolerably acceptably passably of a sort partly nominally partially more or less negligibly part halfway incompletely half partway Antonyms & Near Antonyms very extremely particularly highly awfully especially terribly exceedingly heavily exceptionally greatly mortally exceeding mightily frightfully substantially significantly deadly considerably hugely surpassingly beastly extensively See More
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rather

adverb

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing rather

Kids Definition

adverb

adverb