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
Xi was flanked by Putin and Kim, two brutal and aggressive dictators whom many nations would rather shun.
—
Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Sorry to all the girlies who are lackadaisical about leaving home and would rather rub their feet together in bed.
—Essence, 5 Sep. 2025
Bethany and Rob are stuck a few extra days in Warsaw, and Bethany would rather spend them with Nel.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2025
Some unauthorized immigrants in Abbotsford would rather self-deport than risk being jailed and forcefully returned to their native country.
—Rick Barrett, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for would rather
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Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Sorry to all the girlies who are lackadaisical about leaving home and would rather rub their feet together in bed.
—Essence, 5 Sep. 2025
Bethany and Rob are stuck a few extra days in Warsaw, and Bethany would rather spend them with Nel.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2025
Some unauthorized immigrants in Abbotsford would rather self-deport than risk being jailed and forcefully returned to their native country.
—Rick Barrett, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 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 13 Sep. 2025.
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