1
as in preferably
by choice or preference
I would rather go to the movies than stay at home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in instead
as a substitute
don't think of the placement test as torture but rather as a chance to show off how much you know
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in pretty
to some degree or extent
I say, don't you think that's rather expensive for a hamburger?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of rather
This is not because people lack discipline, but rather because their biology fights hard to return to its old set point.
—
Amy J. Sheer, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2026
While Kelce would most likely rather be playing in the Super Bowl this weekend, this golf outing in Scottsdale, Arizona works, too.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 5 Feb. 2026
The solution isn’t ever-tighter calorie restriction but rather restoring metabolic balance.
—Bret Scher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Bruley said that his core objection to federal officers isn't to immigration enforcement itself, but rather the way this surge has been carried out.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rather
Amy J. Sheer, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2026
While Kelce would most likely rather be playing in the Super Bowl this weekend, this golf outing in Scottsdale, Arizona works, too.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 5 Feb. 2026
The solution isn’t ever-tighter calorie restriction but rather restoring metabolic balance.
—Bret Scher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Bruley said that his core objection to federal officers isn't to immigration enforcement itself, but rather the way this surge has been carried out.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rather
Adverb
-
If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Daily News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
For many of us, a spritz is best enjoyed under a blazing sun, preferably next to the water, maybe wearing as little as possible.—
Chadner Navarro,
Vogue,
10 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
They have been used ever since, except for Super Bowl 50, where the number was used instead because NFL ad designers felt Super Bowl L was too unattractive and unmarketable.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2026
-
However, Zelenskyy, backed by European leaders and some members of Congress, has insisted that the sanctions regime against Russia must instead be tightened to starve the Russian war machine of revenue and Western technological components.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Feltner’s routine was pretty simple.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Alex and Ashley In the pods, Ashley and Alex fell in love with each other pretty much without conflict.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Investigators do not believe Nancy Guthrie left her home willingly and that she was abducted in her sleep early Sunday morning, the Pima County Sheriff's Department told ABC News.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Volunteers often are needed for low-level jobs that Quimby does willingly, including keeping track of how long a person is taking for a shower, arbitrating the line for use of two bathrooms, and moderating use of washers and driers.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
1 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Some economists suggested last week's rise could be statistical noise, and the total number remains relatively low compared with history.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
-
One is that Venus is relatively large (almost the same size as Earth) for a rocky planet as well as relatively close to the Sun; in terms of the total amount of solar radiation incident on its surface, only Jupiter receives more.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
5 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
But soon after their daughter was born, the Caucasian couple realized the baby was not of the same race.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Smith’s social media campaign soon went viral.—
Jane Harper,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
The answer, quite straightforwardly, is no.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The Oscar-winning British filmmaker crafts a sumptuous bad romance that’s quite haughty, darkly hilarious and ultimately heartfelt.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Halftime shows for many years were also fairly boring affairs.—
David Hill,
Rolling Stone,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Despite that shift, conditions should otherwise be fairly consistent with lots of sunshine and overnight lows in the 40s.—
Julia James,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rather. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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