1
—used with the infinitive form of a verb to indicate negation as a contrary choice or wish
rather than continue the argument, he walked away
chose to sing rather than play violin
2
: and not
obscures rather than resolves the problem
why do one thing rather than another?
happy rather than sad
: instead of
rather than being pleased, she was angry
Examples of rather than in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mark Green, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2025
The Liberal Party — which appointed a literal icon of globalism and world governance as prime minister– is casting Trump as the main villain, rather than their own crippling globalist policies.
—Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2025
Phillip MacIak, WIRED, 7 Mar. 2023
But others said that these technologies should be viewed as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, animal testing.
—Emily Anthes, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for rather than
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Conjunction
Despite their attempt at reverse Darwinism, Democrats appear stuck on reacting one by one to waves of disinformation rather than — since their whole-is-greater-than-the-sum -of-its-parts — reframing the narrative to get back on offense.
—Mark Green, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2025
The Liberal Party — which appointed a literal icon of globalism and world governance as prime minister– is casting Trump as the main villain, rather than their own crippling globalist policies.
—Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2025
Preposition
Engelhardt’s essay is a pointed exploration of the way that advertising seeps into children’s television and a critique of TV aesthetics that dull rather than enliven young minds.
—Phillip MacIak, WIRED, 7 Mar. 2023
But others said that these technologies should be viewed as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, animal testing.
—Emily Anthes, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for rather than
Cite this Entry
“Rather than.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rather%20than. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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