1
as in preferably
by choice or preference
I would rather go to the movies than stay at home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in instead
as a substitute
don't think of the placement test as torture but rather as a chance to show off how much you know
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in pretty
to some degree or extent
I say, don't you think that's rather expensive for a hamburger?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of rather
The long fight for equality is far from over, and our collective engagement is not optional but rather a moral imperative.
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Jen Cousins and Kbf Francis, Orlando Sentinel, 26 Dec. 2024
Who are the ones that are most over- or underperforming in terms of xA (or rather whose teammates are)?
—Michael Cox, The Athletic, 25 Dec. 2024
The Lone Star State is no longer an upstart, but rather a leading exporter of conservative policy and jurisprudence.
—The New Yorker, 24 Dec. 2024
The company has been producing rather odd yet nifty motorcycles for a while now, with most using the same 7-horsepower Kohler engine.
—New Atlas, 14 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rather 
Jen Cousins and Kbf Francis, Orlando Sentinel, 26 Dec. 2024
Who are the ones that are most over- or underperforming in terms of xA (or rather whose teammates are)?
—Michael Cox, The Athletic, 25 Dec. 2024
The Lone Star State is no longer an upstart, but rather a leading exporter of conservative policy and jurisprudence.
—The New Yorker, 24 Dec. 2024
The company has been producing rather odd yet nifty motorcycles for a while now, with most using the same 7-horsepower Kohler engine.
—New Atlas, 14 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rather
Adverb
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What separates a great investor from a good one is proactivity around identifying and mitigating those risks as soon as the deal is final, preferably even before closing.Dan Hawkins, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
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The only way to achieve that is to blast pizza dough with heat from both top and bottom—about 600 degrees at the very least, preferably 650.Saahil Desai, The Atlantic, 6 Dec. 2024
Adverb
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Many national chains, such as McDonald's, IHOP and Red Lobster, will be open on Christmas, but why not dine at a local eatery instead? Continue below for a list of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky restaurants open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day this year.Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 22 Dec. 2024
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Chloë Sevigny, everyone’s favorite New York it-girl, looked instead to take inspiration from the mountains for her Christmas-time look.Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2024
Adverb
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While inflation makes the comparisons between Carter and Biden inevitable, several other economic indicators were actually pretty strong under Biden, which wasn't the case for Carter.Nathaniel Rakich, ABC News, 23 Dec. 2024
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The incoming Trump administration is bad news for the D.C. establishment, but great news for pretty much everybody else.Michael Glassner and John Pence, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Adverb
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The course was among a relatively small number of 18-hole courses to debut across the U.S. in 2024, most of them high-end destination properties.Erik Matuszewski, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
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Overall, crime in the subway is relatively rare, with trains and platforms generally as safe as any other public place in New York City.Cedar Attanasio, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2024
Adverb
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And to be able to see his international fans so soon has felt unbelievable.Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2024
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Martin Estrada has painted the case as part of a pattern of the Chinese government seeking to influence local officials who are not yet on the national stage — but could be soon.Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024
Adverb
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My only quibble: unlike Part 1, Part 2 actually deviates quite substantially from the source material, particularly with regard to the fates of Constance and Milady.Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2024
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While this one won't be quite as many expect, there is still a lot being added and changed in the next few days.Mike Stubbs, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Adverb
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Outlooks farther north in Illinois were fairly similar.Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 26 Dec. 2024
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The second half morphs into a fairly generic action set piece, crescendoing to a bitterly underwhelming climax and a conclusion that offers no kind of closure.Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 26 Dec. 2024
Adverb
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For The Win's daily sports newsletter pairs the latest news from around the sports world with the smartest – yet somewhat irreverent – takes from FTW's staff.Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024
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Worlds of Marvel, somewhat hosted by the character Groot, is an interactive dinner with trivia and on-screen activities.Leslie D. Rose, Parents, 20 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near rather
Cite this Entry
“Rather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rather. Accessed 1 Jan. 2025.
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