would rather
idiom
—used to indicate what one wants or prefers to do, have, etc.
She would rather drive than take the train.
I would rather you didn't tell them.
"If you'd rather, we can go outside." "No, thanks—I'd rather not."
Which beach would you rather go to?
Examples of would rather in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
By all accounts, Hamid—measured and soft-spoken, inclined to listen before speaking—was doing something irrational, especially in Silicon Valley, where many people would rather start something new than fix something broken.
—
Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
Most people would rather not return to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Francesca would rather fake it than delve too deeply.
—Meg Walters, Glamour, 29 Jan. 2026
Once snow and ice set in, a lot of locals would rather sit tight than risk a drive that leaves very little room for mistakes.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for would rather
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Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
Most people would rather not return to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Francesca would rather fake it than delve too deeply.
—Meg Walters, Glamour, 29 Jan. 2026
Once snow and ice set in, a lot of locals would rather sit tight than risk a drive that leaves very little room for mistakes.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for would rather
Cite this Entry
“Would rather.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/would%20rather. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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