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.
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Recent Examples of rather
Soon, the Red Sox will turn their attention to the MLB Draft that's approaching rather quickly.
—
Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
Per Deadline, Branagh will play Streep’s onscreen husband, or rather, the fourth Mr. Miranda Priestly.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 30 June 2025
From Technology Investment To Enterprise Asset Calculating ERP ROI should not be a one-time task post-deployment but rather an ongoing strategic initiative encompassing financial, operational and organizational results.
—Shiv Kaushik, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Bayern Munich have a talent pathway that is also looking rather healthy this summer.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rather
Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
Per Deadline, Branagh will play Streep’s onscreen husband, or rather, the fourth Mr. Miranda Priestly.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 30 June 2025
From Technology Investment To Enterprise Asset Calculating ERP ROI should not be a one-time task post-deployment but rather an ongoing strategic initiative encompassing financial, operational and organizational results.
—Shiv Kaushik, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Bayern Munich have a talent pathway that is also looking rather healthy this summer.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rather
Adverb
-
Ideally, Newcastle desire experience working at a club which has regularly qualified for European football — and preferably the Champions League.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
-
From $6,750 per person for Hinoki Travels’ seven-night Interdependence: East Greenland trip, excluding flights from Reykjavik. Chloe Berge is a travel journalist drawn to adventures in the world’s rugged, remote corners, preferably exploring them on foot.—
Chloe Berge,
Outside Online,
17 June 2025
Adverb
-
Kemp ignored the commands and instead accelerated and quickly came to a stop just in front of the sergeant.—
Shanzeh Ahmad,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2025
-
In an attempt to preserve public trust, the government instead broke it, Offit said.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
25 June 2025
Adverb
-
Yellow and purple is a pretty bold choice of contrasting colours.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
-
Promotion is in full swing for Squid Game 3, which has arrived pretty sharpish after Season 2.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
27 June 2025
Adverb
-
The concern level is relatively low at the moment, but Kranick had Tommy John surgery in 2022, so the Mets are exercising caution.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
20 June 2025
-
Senate proceedings were relatively drama free, compared to previous markups and committee deliberations.—
Cleve Mesidor,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
Adverb
-
Other liberty trees soon arose, and patriots often gathered beneath the branches seeking wisdom and support.—
Orlando Sentinel Staff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 June 2025
-
Please check back again soon for the recorded video. LIVE VIDEO TO BEGIN AFTER AD Loaded: 0% Progress: 0% Use up and down arrows to change volume, and spacebar or enter to toggle mute.—
Dhruv Mehrotra,
Wired News,
25 June 2025
Adverb
-
The prospect of trying to cut open a stubborn 5-4-1 block in the Orlando heat could have become torturous quite quickly.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
-
The craft beer landscape was quite different when the Maltose Falcons formed their homebrewing club in California 51 years ago.—
Gary Stoller,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Adverb
-
The future of collaboration is not man versus machine, but man with machine—in an open, visible process where every contributor can see, learn from, and be fairly assessed for their effort.—
David Ferrucci,
Fortune,
30 June 2025
-
The Bulls will want to negotiate this number down — which is more easily accomplished by compromising on a longer contract — but their commitment to the guard has been fairly clear in the build-up to these negotiations.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
30 June 2025
Adverb
-
Well, Haliburton’s experience in the recent NBA Finals may have seemed somewhat like déjà vu all over again.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
-
The only country that has moved somewhat away from China and toward the United States in the past 30 years is Vietnam, although not by much (from 41 to 45).—
Yuen Foong Khong,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rather. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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