would rather
idiom
—used to indicate what one wants or prefers to do, have, etc.
She would rather drive than take the train.
I would rather you didn't tell them.
"If you'd rather, we can go outside." "No, thanks—I'd rather not."
Which beach would you rather go to?
Examples of would rather in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
BUSARs would rather hike all night in a blizzard than fund-raise, or do admin.
—
Paige Williams, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Perhaps the sea lions’ greatest crime is indulging in salmon that humans would rather be feasting on.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
And young locals these days would rather pursue surf instructing than whaling.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
People would rather yell at pundits on television than reach for their reading glasses.
—Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for would rather
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Paige Williams, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Perhaps the sea lions’ greatest crime is indulging in salmon that humans would rather be feasting on.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
And young locals these days would rather pursue surf instructing than whaling.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
People would rather yell at pundits on television than reach for their reading glasses.
—Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for would rather
Cite this Entry
“Would rather.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/would%20rather. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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