rare

¹ American  

[rair] / rɛər /

adjective

rarer, rarest

1. coming or occurring far apart in time; unusual; uncommon: His visits are rare occasions.

   a rare disease;

   His visits are rare occasions.

   Synonyms:

   singular, extraordinary, exceptional

   Antonyms:

   common

2. thinly distributed over an area; few and widely separated.

   Lighthouses are rare on that part of the coast.

   Synonyms:

   infrequent, sparse

   Antonyms:

   frequent

3. having the component parts not closely compacted together; not dense: lightheaded from the rare mountain air.

   rare gases;

   lightheaded from the rare mountain air.

4. unusually great.

   a rare display of courage.

5. unusually excellent; admirable; fine.

   She showed rare tact in inviting them.

   Synonyms:

   inimitable, incomparable, choice

   Antonyms:

   inferior

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rare ² American  

[rair] / rɛər /

adjective

rarer, rarest

1. (of meat) cooked just slightly.

   He likes his steak rare.

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rare ³ American  

[rair] / rɛər /

verb (used without object)

Older Use.

rared, raring

1. rear.

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rare ¹ British  

/ rɛə /

adjective

1. not widely known; not frequently used or experienced; uncommon or unusual

   a rare word

2. occurring seldom

   a rare appearance

3. not widely distributed; not generally occurring

   a rare herb

4. (of a gas, esp the atmosphere at high altitudes) having a low density; thin; rarefied

5. uncommonly great; extreme

   kind to a rare degree

6. exhibiting uncommon excellence; superlatively good or fine

   rare skill

7. highly valued because of its uncommonness

   a rare prize

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rare ² British  

/ rɛə /

adjective

1. (of meat, esp beef) very lightly cooked

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Other Word Forms

• rareness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of rare¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English rar(e), rer(e) “light, airy, loose,” from Latin rārus “loose, porous, wide apart, thin, infrequent”

Origin of rare²

First recorded in 1610–20; variant of earlier rear, Middle English rere, hrere, Old English hrēr “(of eggs) lightly boiled”

Explanation

If an event is rare, it doesn't happen often. If an object is rare, there aren't many of its kind. Obviously, finding a rare gem is a rare occasion. Rare comes from the Latin word rarus, meaning “widely spaced,” as rare things are — whether in actual space or in time. You thought it was rare to meet someone you have so much in common with, until he fainted looking at the rare steak you ordered. The rare that describes prepared meat actually has a separate origin: it comes from the long-gone word rear, meaning “half-cooked.”

Example Sentences

The unusual rocky planet could represent a rare cosmic oddity, or it might reveal a broader trend astronomers have not yet recognized.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2026

“In the years since it passed, it has been working and has really helped in the post-pandemic recovery in our neighborhood commercial corridors. It’s been a rare instant success story.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

Its listing, which was held by Kaelin Hall of William Means Real Estate, described the property as a “striking custom residence” that offers “a rare sense of privacy paired with a refined, design-forward aesthetic.”

From MarketWatch • May 21, 2026

The goal of the menswear line, Jonathan said in rare public comments, was “to respond to a man who sees fashion as a means of communication and self-expression.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

Tūtū’s plumeria produces blooms in pink, yellow, and a rare blue.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

Related Words

• extraordinary
• limited
• occasional
• scarce
• singular
• strange
• subtle
• uncommon
• unique
• unlikely
• unthinkable
• unusual