Advertisement
Advertisement
rather
[ adverb rath-er, rah-ther; interjection rath-ur, rah-thur ]
adverb
- in a measure; to a certain extent; somewhat:
Some of his poems are rather good.
- in some degree:
I rather thought you would regret it.
- more properly or justly; with better reason:
The contrary is rather to be supposed.
- sooner; more readily or willingly:
to die rather than yield.
- more properly or correctly speaking; more truly:
He is a painter or, rather, a watercolorist.
- on the contrary:
It's not generosity, rather self-interest.
- rather than, instead of:
Tutoring is provided by older students rather than teachers.
Rather than complain, you should try to make changes.
interjection
- Chiefly British. emphatically yes; assuredly; without doubt:
Is the book worth reading? Rather!
rather
/ ˈrɑːðə /
adverb
- relatively or fairly; somewhat
it's rather dull
- to a significant or noticeable extent; quite
she's rather pretty
- to a limited extent or degree
I rather thought that was the case
- with better or more just cause
this text is rather to be deleted than rewritten
- more readily or willingly; sooner
I would rather not see you tomorrow
sentence connector
- on the contrary
it's not cold. Rather, it's very hot indeed
sentence substitute
- an expression of strong affirmation, often in answer to a question
Is it worth seeing? Rather!
Usage
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of rather1
Idioms and Phrases
- would rather, to prefer to; to prefer that: Also Archaic or Literary, had rather. Compare sooner 1( def 7 ).
I would much rather we just went home.
We would rather go for dinner after the show.
More idioms and phrases containing rather
see had rather .Example Sentences
Fluoride first entered an American water supply through a rather inelegant technocratic scheme.
To put it rather uncharitably, the USPHS practiced a major dental experiment on a city full of unconsenting subjects.
What they found was that most people preferred to work with the lovable fool rather than the competent jerk.
Which is impossible unless people talk publicly rather than letting each crime be its own isolated incident.
Lady Rose is also rather subdued in the premiere, which is a pity.
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.
It ended on a complaint that she was 'tired rather and spending my time at full length on a deck-chair in the garden.'
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.
Advertisement
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse