rare
reh-uh
Rare (adj) means not common; found or happening only occasionally. Example: “A total solar eclipse is a rare sight.”
adj
1
Not common; found or happening only occasionally.
"A total solar eclipse is a rare sight."
"It's rare for him to arrive late."
"Seeing a snow leopard in the wild is extremely rare."
2
Of meat: cooked only briefly, so the inside stays red and juicy.
"He ordered his steak rare."
"Rare steak is still cool and red in the middle."
"The waiter asked whether I wanted the lamb rare or medium."
How to use rare
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot seen or happening very often — or, for meat, barely cooked.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the cooking sense (rare steak, barely cooked) with "medium" or "well done," which mean more thoroughly cooked.
Common pairings
a rare occurrence
rare steak
rare disease
a rare opportunity
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Word forms
- Plural
- rares
- Third person singular
- rares
- Past tense
- rared
- Comparative
- rarer, more rare
- Superlative
- rarest, most rare
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A total solar eclipse is a _____ sight.
Etymology
From Latin rarus, "thin, spaced apart, infrequent" — the idea of things being spread far apart gave us the modern sense of "uncommon."
Synonyms
View more →
unusual
exceptional
sparse
dearthy
few and far between
geason
infrequent
in short supply
raresome
scant
scantling
scarce
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for rare
See all rhymes for rare →Frequently asked questions
What does “rare” mean?
The word “rare” means not common; found or happening only occasionally. In plain terms, not seen or happening very often — or, for meat, barely cooked.
How do you pronounce “rare”?
“Rare” is pronounced reh-uh (/ɹɛɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “rare” in a sentence?
Here is “rare” used in a sentence: “A total solar eclipse is a rare sight.”
What is another word for “rare”?
Words with a similar meaning to “rare” include dearthy, few and far between, geason, infrequent, in short supply and raresome.
What is the opposite of “rare”?
The opposite of “rare” — its antonyms — are common and widespread.
What part of speech is “rare”?
“Rare” is an adjective.
Where does the word “rare” come from?
The word “rare” comes from Latin. From Latin rarus, "thin, spaced apart, infrequent" — the idea of things being spread far apart gave us the modern sense of "uncommon.".
Is “rare” a common word?
“Rare” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between rare and scarce?
'Rare' means few of something exist and it is seldom found or seen at all, such as rare stamps or a rare bird. 'Scarce' means something is temporarily in short supply relative to demand, like water in a drought. Rare describes lasting uncommonness, while scarce often describes a passing shortage.
What is the difference between rare and unique?
'Rare' means very few exist, so there are still others like it, just not many. 'Unique' means one of a kind, with nothing else quite the same. Something rare is uncommon, while something unique is singular. Strictly, unique has no degrees, so the phrase 'very unique' is best avoided.
What is the opposite of rare?
The main opposites are 'common' and 'frequent,' describing things found or happening often. Depending on context, you might also use ordinary, widespread, or abundant. Where rare means seldom seen, its opposites all point to something encountered regularly or existing in large numbers everywhere.
Is rare a positive or negative word?
Rare is neutral and takes its tone from context. It is often positive, implying something special, precious, or valuable, as in a rare talent or a rare gem. But it can be negative too, as in a rare disease. The word describes scarcity; whether that is good or bad depends on the subject.
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