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

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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.
On the other hand, anyone who would rather not worry about maximizing spending categories will appreciate being able to earn a high flat-rate return everywhere. Jason Stauffer,trina Paul, CNBC, 9 Dec. 2024 The sudden collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s despotic regime in Syria this weekend highlights the interconnectedness of a growing number of global conflicts, revealing a hard truth that most of us would rather not think about too deeply: World War III has already begun. Bryce Hoffman, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024 Some countries would rather international donors give them the tools to create their own vetting process. David Cox, NPR, 5 Dec. 2024 Work-from-home regulations for banks are changing, and some of the industry’s biggest players would rather bring employees in five days a week than make the effort to comply—including making regular inspections of workers’ homes. Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 1 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for would rather 

Dictionary Entries Near would rather

Cite this Entry

“Would rather.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/would%20rather. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

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