rather
Use Rather in a sentence
ər, ˈrɑ adverb
1.
in a measure; to a certain extent; somewhat: rather good.
2.
in some degree: I rather thought you would regret it.
3.
more properly or justly; with better reason: The contrary is rather to be supposed.
4.
sooner; more readily or willingly: to die rather than yield.
5.
more properly or correctly speaking; more truly: He is a painter or, rather, a watercolorist.
interjection
8.
00:10
Rather
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
9.
had/would rather, to prefer that or to: I had much rather we not stay. We would rather go for dinner after the show.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To rather
Collins
World English Dictionary
rathe or rath (reɪð, rɑːθ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | blossoming or ripening early in the season |
| 2. | eager or prompt |
| [Old English hrathe; related to Old High German hrado, Old Norse hrathr] | |
| rath or rath | |
| —adj | |
| [Old English hrathe; related to Old High German hrado, Old Norse hrathr] | |
| rather (ˈrɑːðə) | |
| —adv | |
| 1. | relatively or fairly; somewhat: it's rather dull |
| 2. | to a significant or noticeable extent; quite: she's rather pretty |
| 3. | to a limited extent or degree: I rather thought that was the case |
| 4. | with better or more just cause: this text is rather to be deleted than rewritten |
| 5. | more readily or willingly; sooner: I would rather not see you tomorrow |
| —sentence connector | |
| 6. | on the contrary: it's not cold. Rather, it's very hot indeed |
| —sentence substitute | |
| 7. | an expression of strong affirmation, often in answer to a question: Is it worth seeing? Rather! |
| usage Both would and had are used with rather in sentences such as I would rather (or had rather) go to the film than to the play. Had rather is less common and is now widely regarded as slightly old-fashioned | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
rather
O.E. hraþor "more quickly, earlier, sooner," also "more readily," comparative of hraþe, hræþe "quickly," related to hræð "quick," from P.Gmc. *khrathuz (cf. O.N. hraðr, O.H.G. hrad). The base form rathe was obsolete by 18c. except in poetry; superlative rathest fell
from use by 17c. Meaning "more willingly" is recorded from c.1300; sense of "more truly" is attested from c.1380.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
Yet some residents would rather run that risk than leave the place they call home.
If there was only ice, and never an ocean, the cooling of the planet should have contracted the ice rather than expanded it.
In my field it's journal articles rather than books, so the economics of publishing is different.
Although warthogs look fierce, they are actually herbivores who prefer to flee rather than fight.
Idioms & Phrases
Nearby Words
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