rather — English Dictionary

Adverb

1. Used to specify a choice or preference; preferably, in preference to. (Now usually followed by than)

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Synonyms

   sooner

   Examples

   I'd rather not have spent all the money, but it really was an emergency.

   I would like this one rather than the other one.

   More examples (5)

   I s'pose we'd better clean the kitchen, but we had much rather not do anything right now.

   Tomorrow's impossible. We'd rather you came next weekend.

   They'd rather've spent the money on a holiday.

   Firstly, I continue to base most species treatments on personally collected material, rather than on herbarium plants.

   I'd rather dance with you than talk with you / So why don't we just move into the other room

2. Used to introduce a contradiction; on the contrary.

   Usage

   • conjunctive
   • not-comparable

   Examples

   It wasn't supposed to be popular; rather, it was supposed to get the job done.

   She didn't go along, but rather went home instead.

   More examples (1)

   Are the characteristics that are ascribed to lingua franca communication general lingua franca features? Or are they rather properties of the lingua franca that is presently most frequently used in this function – English?

3. Introducing a qualification or clarification; more precisely. (Now usually preceded by or.)

   Usage

   • conjunctive
   • not-comparable

   Examples

   More examples (3)

   What the pupil already knew was indeed rather taken for granted than expressed, but it performed the useful function of transcending all textbooks, and supplanting all studies.

   1898, J. A. Hamilton, "Stanley, Edward George Geoffrey Smith", in Sidney Lee (Ed.), Dictionary of National Biography, Volume LIV: Stanhope–Stovin, The MacMillan Company, page 60, His ‘Iliad’ is spirited and polished, and, though often rather a paraphrase than a translation, is always more truly poetic than most of the best translations.

   All this was extraordinarily distasteful to Churchill.[…]Never before had he felt such repulsion when the vicar displayed his characteristic bluntness or coarseness of speech. In the present connection—or rather as a transition from the subject that had started their conversation—such talk had been distressingly out of place.

   I didn't want to leave. Or rather I did, just not alone.

4. Somewhat, quite; to an unexpected degree.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Synonyms

   somewhatfairlyactuallyunexpectedly

   Antonyms

   utterly

   Examples

   It's been rather/quite a good meal overall, but this melon is rather too tasteless.

   We had some rather worse news today.

   More examples (2)

   We’ll be seeing rather a lot of you over the next few days.

   Translated from the original Latin, it reads, “Ivan the third; does it with birds.” Rather juvenile, don’t you think?

5. More quickly.

   Usage

   • not-comparable
   • Obsolete

   Synonyms

   soonerearlier

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Pompey, being elated and filled with confidence by this victory, made all haste to engage Sertorius himself, and the rather lest Metellus should come in for a share in the honour of the victory.

Adjective

1. Prior; earlier; former.

   Usage

   • not-comparable
   • Obsolete

   Examples

   Now no man dwelleth at the rather town of Damietta.

Interjection

1. An enthusiastic affirmation.

   Usage

   • England
   • Dated

   Examples

   Would you like some? –Rather!

   "Do you mean to say, young man," she said frostily, "that you expect me to drink this stuff?" ¶ "Rather! Bucks you up, you know."

   More examples (2)

   "Farewell, Daughter of Eve," said he. "Perhaps I may keep the handkerchief?" "Rather!" said Lucy, and then ran towards the far-off patch of daylight as quickly as her legs would carry her.

   "Some of us stupid old die-hards believe that there is yet room for pride in one's work, Pook," Mr Pants said with dangerous emphasis. "Oh, rather, sir. I'd much sooner walk to London Town than ride in one of those motorcars we've heard tell of, sir."

Noun

1. A choice or a preference.

   Usage

   • Dated
   • Informal
   • Uncommon

   Examples

   If I had my rathers I'd make up my own band. Art Blakey on the skins, Charlie Mingus on the bass, John Coltrane on the sax, Harry Edison on the horn-

   I would rather do it by myself. I would rather, if I had my rathers, not be seen doing it.

Verb

1. To prefer; to prefer to.

   Usage

   • dialectal
   • nonstandard

   Examples

   You'd rather us dead.

   More examples (4)

   Until just before the pie was popped into the heat. A few of them suddenly realized who put that gorgeous hunk of crackers together, and gaped. We grinned back, but very cool. The ones who knew said nothing, rathering to die than let on they had been hustled by two negative dudes.

   It was a plain brown dress, more or less the colour of my hair; and the walls of our kitchen being also brown, when I came downstairs again I could hardly be seen. I should have rathered a blue gown, or a violet one; […]

   So you must excuse my saying anything I did: all it was, that up to the very last I had understood us all to be friendly — apart, that is, from his rathering me not there. How was I to know he would flash out so wicked?

   "That was a killer," said Chris. "I'd rathered die in St. Bernard than spent one minute over there. I would have rathered the storm, shaking with the wind and rain hitting in the boat for an eternity than spending any time there.

Adverb

1. on the contrary

   Synonyms

   instead

   Examples

   rather than disappoint the children, he did two quick tricks before he left

   he didn't call; rather (or instead), he wrote her a letter

   More examples (1)

   used English terms instead of Latin ones

2. to some (great or small) extent

   Synonyms

   kind ofkindasort of

   Examples

   it was rather cold

   the party was rather nice

   More examples (4)

   the knife is rather dull

   I rather regret that I cannot attend

   He's rather good at playing the cello

   he is kind of shy

3. more readily or willingly

   Synonyms

   preferablysooner

   Examples

   clean it well, preferably with warm water

   I'd rather be in Philadelphia

   More examples (1)

   I'd sooner die than give up

4. to a degree (not used with a negative)

   Synonyms

   quite

   Examples

   quite tasty

   quite soon

   More examples (2)

   quite ill

   quite rich