rather

adverb

ˈra-t͟hər How to pronounce rather (audio)
Definition of rathernext
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rather Their missions are similar, but unlike Porsche, Bentley isn’t chasing ultimate performance, but rather the ultimate expression of luxury. — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 27 Aug. 2026 In addition to the new Iran measures, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also rather quietly ended its designation for Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism. — Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026 The pic was rather successful in the day, grossing close to $70 million at the domestic box office. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026 No single event led to the breakup, two of the sources add, but rather the parties slowly drifted apart. — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rather
  1. preferably
  2. instead
  3. pretty
  4. willingly
  5. relatively
  6. soon
  7. quite
  8. fairly
Adverb
  • Store firewood neatly, preferably elevated and away from the house, and clear clutter that could shelter rodents.
    — Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The filling sets in the fridge for at least four hours, but preferably overnight.
    — Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of preferably
Adverb
  • So when Billie and Issa get an actual offer for drinks with two firefighters who come to the house, Billie puts on a goofy British accent à la Issa and turns them down, choosing a quiet night at home with her friend instead.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • On September 6, 1901, a setting intended to showcase the thrill of a new century instead became the scene of a presidential assassination.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of instead
Adverb
  • This pretty green bottle holds a luxe Korean formula inspired by their iconic scalp treatments.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Another angle to factor in is that Baltimore and Cincinnati have pretty low floors.
    — Austin Mock, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of pretty
Adverb
  • If Gluck has willingly conceded to the anti-erotic proclivities of his intended audience, Araki has, naturally, set out to defy them.
    — Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Summary Early healthcare software was willingly adopted for its usefulness, unlike Electronic Health Records (EHRs) which required government mandates and billions in incentives for widespread implementation.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of willingly
Adverb
  • Renewable capacity can be added relatively quickly, but intermittency increases the need for storage, firm generation, and transmission.
    — Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Flippo’s main opponent is Teresa Benitez-Thompson, 48, a longtime Reno resident, former member of the state Assembly and a relatively moderate Democrat.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of relatively
Adverb
  • For years, America's been in the chokehold of unnecessarily oversized pickup trucks, but recent announcements of new vehicles show that common sense – and more reasonably proportioned utes – may soon prevail.
    — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Robinson was expected to be an upgrade over veteran receiver Robert Woods, who was subsequently traded to the Tennessee Titans soon after the Robinson deal, but wasn’t able to achieve his previous levels of success.
    — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of soon
Adverb
  • It's been quite a disappointing year for home shoppers who waited since 2023 for rates to cool off.
    — Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • However, the approach is marred by low throughput, and the process is also quite complex to execute.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of quite
Adverb
  • Clarify the expectation, price your time fairly, and choose one daily improvement that protects your energy while helping your confidence become more consistent.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Although most modern dishwashers are designed to run fairly often, experts say running your dishwasher every day might put your machine—and wallet—at risk.
    — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of fairly

Browse Nearby Words

rat finks
rather
ratification
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rather. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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