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
And for those who would rather sip local brews, Bardstown Rotary Club will host a beer garden on Saturday, June 14th.
—
David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
The site is the sort that most builders would rather avoid: too hard to access, too many slopes, too much water, not enough space to maneuver.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 28 Apr. 2025
That shouldn’t be a surprise because the Packers would rather cease to exist as a franchise than draft an offensive lineman who can’t play at least three.
—Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
By her own admission, Cheyenne would rather be out saving the whales than prancing across a stage.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for would rather
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David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
The site is the sort that most builders would rather avoid: too hard to access, too many slopes, too much water, not enough space to maneuver.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 28 Apr. 2025
That shouldn’t be a surprise because the Packers would rather cease to exist as a franchise than draft an offensive lineman who can’t play at least three.
—Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
By her own admission, Cheyenne would rather be out saving the whales than prancing across a stage.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2025
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 3 May. 2025.
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