rather

Plural: rathers

Adverb

• Preferably; more precisely or exactly.
• on the contrary
  • "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"
• to some (great or small) extent
  • "it was rather cold"
  • "the party was rather nice"
  • "the knife is rather dull"
  • "I rather regret that I cannot attend"
  • "He's rather good at playing the cello"
• more readily or willingly
  • "I'd rather be in Philadelphia"
• to a degree (not used with a negative)

Adv

• Used to specify a choice or preference; preferably, in preference to. (Now usually followed by than)
• Used to introduce a contradiction; on the contrary.
• Introducing a qualification or clarification; more precisely. (Now usually preceded by or.)
• Somewhat, quite; to an unexpected degree.
• More quickly.

Adj

• Prior; earlier; former.

Intj

• An enthusiastic affirmation.

Noun

• A choice or a preference.

Verb

• To prefer; to prefer to.

Examples

• I didn't want to leave. Or rather I did, just not alone.
• I s'pose we'd better clean the kitchen, but we had much rather not do anything right now.
• I would like this one rather than the other one.
• I'd rather like a cup of tea. - Oh, would you? I'd rather have a mug of beer.
• I'd rather not have spent all the money, but it really was an emergency.
• It wasn't supposed to be popular; rather, it was supposed to get the job done.
• It's been rather/quite a good meal overall, but this melon is rather too tasteless.
• I’d rather play a bingo for 50 points than a short word for 10.
• She didn't go along, but rather went home instead.
• They'd rather've spent the money on a holiday.
• Tomorrow's impossible. We'd rather you came next weekend.
• We had some rather worse news today.
• We’ll be seeing rather a lot of you over the next few days.
• Would you like some? –Rather!

Synonyms

instead, kind of, kinda, preferably, quite, sooner, sort of, actually, earlier, fairly, liefer, somewhat, unexpectedly

Antonyms

utterly

Anagrams of rather