rather
RAH-thuh
Rather (adv) means used to show a preference for one thing over another. Example: “I would rather stay home than go to the party.”
adv
1
Used to show a preference for one thing over another.
"I would rather stay home than go to the party."
"Would you rather have tea or coffee with your cake?"
"I'd rather walk home than wait for the late bus."
2
To some noticeable degree; somewhat or quite.
"The exam was rather difficult."
"It's rather cold outside today."
"The soup tasted rather salty, so I added some water."
3
Used to correct or clarify a previous statement; more accurately.
"She is not lazy, or rather, she is simply very tired."
"I live in London, or rather, in a small suburb just outside it."
"He wasn't angry, but rather disappointed."
How to use rather
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA word for showing preference, degree, or a correction ("more precisely").
Common pairings
would rather
rather than
or rather
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Word forms
- Plural
- rathers
- Third person singular
- rathers
- Past tense
- rathered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I would _____ stay home than go to the party.
Etymology
From Old English hraþor, "sooner, more quickly" — the comparative of a word meaning "swift."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for rather
father
lather
gather
Mather
leather
weather
feather
heather
breather
godfather
stepfather
Mayweather
See all rhymes for rather →
Frequently asked questions
What does “rather” mean?
The word “rather” means used to show a preference for one thing over another. In plain terms, a word for showing preference, degree, or a correction ("more precisely").
How do you pronounce “rather”?
“Rather” is pronounced RAH-thuh (/ˈɹæðɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “rather” in a sentence?
Here is “rather” used in a sentence: “I would rather stay home than go to the party.”
What part of speech is “rather”?
“Rather” is an adverb.
Where does the word “rather” come from?
The word “rather” comes from Old English. From Old English hraþor, "sooner, more quickly" — the comparative of a word meaning "swift.".
Is “rather” a common word?
“Rather” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “rather” have?
“Rather” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: used to show a preference for one thing over another.
What does 'would rather' mean?
'Would rather' expresses a preference — choosing one option over another. 'I would rather walk' means walking is what you prefer. It is followed by a bare verb, and to add the rejected option you use 'than': 'I'd rather stay than go.' It is a polite, natural way to state what you favour.
What is the difference between 'rather than' and 'instead of'?
Both introduce a rejected alternative and often swap freely. 'Rather than' tends to weigh two choices at the moment of deciding — 'walk rather than drive.' 'Instead of' stresses replacing one thing with another — 'tea instead of coffee.' In practice the difference is slight, and either usually sounds correct.
Does 'rather' always show preference?
No. Rather has a second common use meaning 'fairly' or 'somewhat' — 'it's rather cold today,' 'a rather long film.' Here it softens or moderates rather than compares choices. A third use corrects a statement: 'not blue, or rather, teal.' Context shows whether it means preference, degree or correction.
Is 'rather' formal or informal?
Rather leans towards the formal and polite, and is especially common in British English. 'I'd rather not' sounds more refined than 'I don't want to.' It is perfectly fine in everyday speech, but in casual American English words like 'pretty' or 'kind of' often replace its 'fairly' sense.
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