Synonyms of rather

rather

adverb

ˈra-t͟hər 

1

as in preferably

by choice or preference

I would rather go to the movies than stay at home

Synonyms & Similar Words

• preferably
• willingly
• soon
• either
• readily
• instead
• first
• alternatively
• alternately
• fain
• voluntarily
• optionally
• gladly
• wishfully
• desirably
• electively
• obligingly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• involuntarily
• reluctantly
• unwillingly
• forcibly
• willy-nilly

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

• instead
• first
• alternatively
• alternately
• in lieu

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

• pretty
• relatively
• quite
• fairly
• somewhat
• something
• enough
• moderately
• a little
• to a degree
• a bit
• a mite
• of sorts
• like
• slightly
• sort of
• kind of
• after a sort
• a tad
• kindly
• more or less
• a touch
• vaguely
• decently
• tolerably
• acceptably
• little
• passably
• partly
• nominally
• partially
• negligibly
• halfway
• incompletely
• partway
• half
• part

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• very
• extremely
• particularly
• highly
• especially
• heavily
• exceedingly
• terribly
• awfully
• exceptionally
• greatly
• deadly
• substantially
• significantly
• frightfully
• hugely
• considerably
• mortally
• mightily
• beastly
• extensively
• surpassingly

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of rather

Late Night with Seth Meyers has been on a rather long summer hiatus but its host didn’t want to miss out on the news. — Peter White, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026

Hitting the Reset Button Chief Engineer Orihara, who has become the public face of this difficult situation and is often plastered across HRC’s social media during race weekends, appears rather hopeful about the new Spec 2 PU. — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 20 Aug. 2026

Maybe no single one of these theories is right—but, rather, all of them are. — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026

Spotify’s new labeling does not technically label the songs themselves but rather the profiles attached to them. — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026