rather

[adverb rath -er, rah-th er; interjection rath -ur, rah-th ur]

See more synonyms for rather on Thesaurus.com

adverb

in a measure; to a certain extent; somewhat: 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!

Idioms

had/would rather, to prefer that or to: I had much rather we not stay. We would rather go for dinner after the show.Compare soon(def 8).

Origin of rather

before 900; Middle English; Old English hrathor, comparative of hræth quick, rathe

rathe

[reyth]

adjective

Archaic. growing, blooming, or ripening early in the year or season.

Also rath

[rath] /ræθ/.

Origin of rathe

before 900; Middle English; Old English hræth, hræd quick, active; cognate with Dutch rad, Old Norse hrathr

Related formsrathe·ly, adverbrathe·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for rather

fairly, pretty, comparatively, quite, somewhat, slightly, relatively, considerably, very, well, noticeably, willingly, sooner, enough, reasonably, so-so, some, something, averagely, passably

Examples from the Web for rather

Contemporary Examples of rather

Fluoride first entered an American water supply through a rather inelegant technocratic scheme.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers
Michael Schulson
July 27, 2016
To put it rather uncharitably, the USPHS practiced a major dental experiment on a city full of unconsenting subjects.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers
Michael Schulson
July 27, 2016
Rather, it was the Democrats who initially were the Southern Party.
Steve Scalise Shows There’s a Fine Line Between Confederate & Southern
Lloyd Green
January 2, 2015
Lady Rose is also rather subdued in the premiere, which is a pity.
What Downton’s Fashion Really Means
Katie Baker
January 2, 2015
Rather, all of the manufactured antibodies are all stirred up but have nowhere to go.
When You Get the Flu This Winter, You Can Blame Anti-Vaxxers
Kent Sepkowitz
January 1, 2015

Historical Examples of rather

Had you rather witness the sports of the gymnasia than the works of artists?
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
Rather gain one prize from the Choragus than ten from the Gymnasiarch.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
"He said he was poor," urged Billy, who had been rather taken with the ease of Arledge's manner.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
Mrs. Rushton was sitting at her work, in rather a disconsolate frame of mind.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
He sat down, rather discontented, and resumed the current of his reflections.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger

British Dictionary definitions for rather

rather

adverb (in senses 1-4, not used with a negative)

relatively or fairly; somewhatit's rather dull
to a significant or noticeable extent; quiteshe's rather pretty
to a limited extent or degreeI rather thought that was the case
with better or more just causethis text is rather to be deleted than rewritten
more readily or willingly; soonerI would rather not see you tomorrow

sentence connector

on the contraryit's not cold. Rather, it's very hot indeed

sentence substitute (ˈrɑːˈðɜː)

an expression of strong affirmation, often in answer to a questionIs it worth seeing? Rather!

Word Origin for rather

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

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

rathe

rath (rɑːθ)

adjective archaic, or literary

blossoming or ripening early in the season
eager or prompt

Word Origin for rathe

Old English hrathe; related to Old High German hrado, Old Norse hrathr

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

Word Origin and History for rather

adv.

Old English hraþor "more quickly, earlier, sooner," also "more readily," comparative of hraþe, hræþe "quickly, hastily, promptly, readily, immediately," which is related to hræð "quick, nimble, prompt, ready," from Proto-Germanic *khratha- (cf. Old Norse hraðr, Old High German hrad), from PIE *kret- "to shake." The base form rathe was obsolete by 18c. except in poetry (Tennyson); superlative rathest fell from use by 17c. Meaning "more willingly" is recorded from c.1300; sense of "more truly" is attested from late 14c.

The rather lambes bene starved with cold
[Spenser, "The Shepheardes Calender" (Februarie), 1579]

Idioms and Phrases with rather

rather

see had rather.