rather
1 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of RATHER
1
:
to some degree or extent
— often used to make a statement less forceful
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Yesterday was a rather [=fairly] hot day.
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That sounded rather [=quite a bit] like thunder.
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a rather [=quite] common flower
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It's getting rather [=pretty] late. We'd better get to bed.
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The movie is a comedy, but rather a dull one.
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a rather [=somewhat] serious condition
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I think the children watch rather too much television.
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It rather annoyed me that he was late picking me up.
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He has been spending rather a lot of money lately.
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She rather likes chocolate.
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To tell you the truth, I rather think you are wrong.
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You're driving rather fast, don't you think?
2
a
— used to introduce a statement that indicates what is true after you have said what is not true
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I don't like chocolate—rather, I love chocolate.
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What matters is not how often you call, but rather what you say.
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It wasn't red but rather a shade of bright orange.
b
— used to introduce a statement that corrects what you have just said
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We can take the car, or rather, the van.
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My father, or rather, my stepfather, will be visiting soon.
3
British, old-fashioned
— used to express agreement
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“Wasn't the show fantastic?” “Rather!”
rather than
1
:
in place of (something or someone)
:
instead of (something or someone)
:
and not
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He writes at a table rather than a desk.
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Why do one thing rather than another?
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Rather than using dried herbs, he picked fresh ones from the garden.
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She reacted by laughing rather than by getting upset.
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He was happy rather than sad.
2
— used to say what is not chosen or done because something else is chosen or done instead
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Rather than continue the argument, she walked away.
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I chose to sing rather than play an instrument.
would rather
— used to indicate what you want or prefer to do, have, etc.
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She would rather drive than take the train.
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I would rather you didn't tell them. [=I would prefer it if you didn't tell them]
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We'd rather go somewhere warm. [=we'd prefer to go somewhere warm]
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“If you'd rather, we can go outside.” “No, thanks—I'd rather not.”
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Which beach would you rather [=would you like to] go to?
