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
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Recent Examples of rather
Blustery, gray, and cool Thursday across Maryland Thursday will be rather gray, blustery and unseasonably cool.
—
Steven Sosna, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Unlike the Kieslowski version, however, this is not a love story but rather one about creativity and imagination.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 14 May 2026
As for that rather significant runtime?
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
The beloved Sesame Street character, or rather, its doppelganger, has been spotted Down Under.
—Shyla Watson, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rather
Steven Sosna, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Unlike the Kieslowski version, however, this is not a love story but rather one about creativity and imagination.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 14 May 2026
As for that rather significant runtime?
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
The beloved Sesame Street character, or rather, its doppelganger, has been spotted Down Under.
—Shyla Watson, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rather
Adverb
-
But there’s pleasure in staying put in town too, preferably eating fish and chips at Lewis’ Seafood Restaurant and watching the light shift over the North Sea.—
Rob Crossan,
Condé Nast Traveler,
13 May 2026
-
Researchers from University College London (UCL) found that at least a weekly dose of art—preferably of diverse forms and types—made people on average about a year younger, as suggested by changes to DNA and in terms of overall health, than those who rarely treated themselves to the creative arts.—
Devorah Lauter,
ARTnews.com,
12 May 2026
Adverb
-
With Snell set to go as many as five innings in what was expected to be his final minor league rehab start, the Dodgers elected to have the two-time Cy Young Award winner do the work on the Dodger Stadium mound instead and the rust was evident.—
Doug Padilla,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
-
Lee instead pivots to a 2023 bribery scandal that has nothing to do with the engineering, fire codes or testing protocols that govern these facilities.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
10 May 2026
Adverb
-
Sandburg’s Quinn Durkin actually developed a pretty good itinerary.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
Making contact with the phone and sending it sailing through the air had to feel pretty good after her first kick attempt came up empty.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
Adverb
-
The scheme has been so successful, law enforcement has created a joint FBI-National Security Division task force to disrupt the operations and have dealt a series of harsh prison terms to American accomplices who have willingly aided the North Koreans.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
-
Part of the experiment involves Mesler willingly extricating himself from Kordansky’s gallery roster.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
14 May 2026
Adverb
-
While the first debate, hosted by Nexstar on April 22, was relatively calm, the subsequent three debates were more chaotic, often serving as an opportunity for candidates to lob accusations at one another.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
These relatively limited records from New Netherland consist mostly of what others said about them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
Adverb
-
Plus, Towns’s contract would soon be for fifty-three million dollars per year.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
10 May 2026
-
Gas and oil prices are marginally down amid expectations Iran will respond to Trump’s framework soon.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
10 May 2026
Adverb
-
According to the brothers, the home — despite appearing quite elegant, with its portico, white balustrade, five bedrooms, carved fireplaces and a music room — has long been in decay and would cost millions of dollars to restore.—
Eric Adler
May 12,
Kansas City Star,
12 May 2026
-
Church-goers who aren't quite ready for lunch food will love this delicious brunch dish.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
12 May 2026
Adverb
-
But perhaps judged by the standards of a more family-friendly, beginner take on the murder mystery, the story’s fairly obvious outcome is a bit more understandable, providing a gentle mystery that all audiences can lightly puzzle over.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
8 May 2026
-
Noise level Unfortunately, both models of this product are fairly noisy.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rather. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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