rather

[ adverb rath-er, rah-ther; interjection rath-ur, rah-thur ]
See synonyms for rather on Thesaurus.com
adverb
  1. in a measure; to a certain extent; somewhat: Some of his poems are rather good.

  2. in some degree: I rather thought you would regret it.

  1. more properly or justly; with better reason: The contrary is rather to be supposed.

  2. sooner; more readily or willingly: to die rather than yield.

  3. more properly or correctly speaking; more truly: He is a painter or, rather, a watercolorist.

  4. on the contrary: It's not generosity, rather self-interest.

  5. rather than, instead of: Tutoring is provided by older students rather than teachers.Rather than complain, you should try to make changes.

interjection
  1. Chiefly British. emphatically yes; assuredly; without doubt: Is the book worth reading? Rather!

Idioms about rather

  1. would rather, to prefer to; to prefer that: I would much rather we just went home.We would rather go for dinner after the show.: Also Archaic or Literary, had rather .Compare sooner1 (def. 7).

Origin of rather

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English hrathor, comparative of hræth “quick, rathe

Words Nearby rather

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use rather in a sentence

  • Truth is a torch, but one of enormous size; so that we slink past it in rather a blinking fashion for fear it should burn us.

    Pearls of Thought | Maturin M. Ballou
  • It ended on a complaint that she was 'tired rather and spending my time at full length on a deck-chair in the garden.'

    The Wave | Algernon Blackwood
  • I was rather awed by his imposing appearance, and advanced timidly to the doors, which were of glass, and pulled the bell.

  • Were you ever arrested, having in your custody another man's cash, and would rather go to gaol, than break it?

  • The streets here are rather wide for an Italian city but would be deemed intolerably narrow in America.

    Glances at Europe | Horace Greeley

British Dictionary definitions for rather

rather

/ (ˈrɑːðə) /


adverb(in senses 1-4, not used with a negative)
  1. relatively or fairly; somewhat: it's rather dull

  2. to a significant or noticeable extent; quite: she's rather pretty

  1. to a limited extent or degree: I rather thought that was the case

  2. with better or more just cause: this text is rather to be deleted than rewritten

  3. more readily or willingly; sooner: I would rather not see you tomorrow

sentence connector
  1. on the contrary: it's not cold. Rather, it's very hot indeed

sentence substitute(ˈrɑːˈðɜː)
  1. an expression of strong affirmation, often in answer to a question: Is it worth seeing? Rather!

Origin of rather

1
Old English hrathor comparative of hræth ready, quick; related to Old Norse hrathr

usage For rather

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 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with rather

rather

see had rather.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.