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
Just a very special way of reminding anyone just tuning in that MTV would rather play absolutely anything besides a music video.
—
Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 16 Nov. 2025
Thus, there is statistically no set of circumstances in which the Chiefs would rather find themselves than this week.
—Sam McDowell 14, Kansas City Star, 14 Nov. 2025
On some level, chemtrail theorists would rather be targets of an evil conspiracy than face the limits of their knowledge and power, even though conspiracy beliefs are not completely satisfying.
—Calum Lister Matheson, The Conversation, 14 Nov. 2025
His behavior is odd, and Charles begins to suspect that Rabari would rather put Angelica in danger than see the future of his new drug compromised.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for would rather
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Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 16 Nov. 2025
Thus, there is statistically no set of circumstances in which the Chiefs would rather find themselves than this week.
—Sam McDowell 14, Kansas City Star, 14 Nov. 2025
On some level, chemtrail theorists would rather be targets of an evil conspiracy than face the limits of their knowledge and power, even though conspiracy beliefs are not completely satisfying.
—Calum Lister Matheson, The Conversation, 14 Nov. 2025
His behavior is odd, and Charles begins to suspect that Rabari would rather put Angelica in danger than see the future of his new drug compromised.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Nov. 2025
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 19 Nov. 2025.
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