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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of rather
The duo may now be cousins rather college friends, and instead of the far reaches of Mongolia, their destination is a small town in southeastern Poland.
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David Fear, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2024
Even so, Liber Pater is not classified as a prestigious Bordeaux Superieur but rather, thanks to its unconventional mix of varieties, is labeled Vin de France, the lowest category in the French-appellation hierarchy, used for entry-level blends with no regional identification.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 27 Oct. 2024
Without proper lighting, our eyes can struggle to understand the dimensions of a room and create for a rather uninviting vibe.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2024
Directed by Rob Marshall, the 2011 film does not pick up on the story arc covered in the first three films, but rather expands upon Jack’s adventures at sea and introduces new characters with new objectives.
—Yasmeen Hamadeh, People.com, 27 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rather 
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2024
Even so, Liber Pater is not classified as a prestigious Bordeaux Superieur but rather, thanks to its unconventional mix of varieties, is labeled Vin de France, the lowest category in the French-appellation hierarchy, used for entry-level blends with no regional identification.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 27 Oct. 2024
Without proper lighting, our eyes can struggle to understand the dimensions of a room and create for a rather uninviting vibe.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2024
Directed by Rob Marshall, the 2011 film does not pick up on the story arc covered in the first three films, but rather expands upon Jack’s adventures at sea and introduces new characters with new objectives.
—Yasmeen Hamadeh, People.com, 27 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rather
Adverb
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Schedule your self-care sessions and process what happened, preferably with someone who excels at listening.Mark Travers, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
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People just need to pay attention, or slow down, or preferably both.DP Opinion, The Denver Post, 9 Oct. 2024
Adverb
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The tradition is centuries old and unique to the U.K., with some towns creating huge elaborate effigies of Guy Fawkes to be burned — sometimes instead building models of contemporary figures, including former prime ministers Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak.Patrick Smith, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
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Rather than spying on other nations, these animals instead provide live feeds of their surroundings to their handlers through camera harnesses.Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 2024
Adverb
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Humans are pretty tiny creatures living on a really large sphere.Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2024
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States and cities can work together to fix legacy highways — and federal support can help In Portland, Oregon, pretty much everyone seems to agree that 82nd Avenue, a major thoroughfare that the state manages, is a disaster.David Zipper, Vox, 13 Nov. 2024
Adverb
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The Arctic's relatively sluggish sea ice growth since the start of winter follows a summer that ended with the sixth lowest minimum extent on record.Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
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Design: The Differences Are Down to Nano-Textures This part of the review is relatively easy to write: Apple changed nothing about its MacBook Pro laptop design except for the optional nano-texture display and the move to Thunderbolt 5 connectivity.PCMAG, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
Adverb
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Lina Khan will soon be gone as chair of the Federal Trade Commission, and M&A dealmakers are salivating.Melvin Backman, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
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Grant phoned his wife Clarissa, who soon arrived with their youngest son Callahan, 4.Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 13 Nov. 2024
Adverb
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His mimicry of Satchmo, the baseline test all these shows must pass, really is quite impressive.Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2024
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Just like many areas that saw a surge of visitors seeking outdoor adventure during COVID, Sedona’s popularity—which was already quite high—soared further.Erin Strout, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024
Adverb
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In November, Kevin sets tree stands low in mountain draws, often fairly close to houses, roads, and developments.Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024
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Californians have a fairly conservative view on crime.Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
Adverb
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This month, the designer will present his 120-piece collection at his new gallery in a somewhat unusual location, downtown’s Seaport neighborhood.Morgan Meier, Curbed, 12 Nov. 2024
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Coach Kyle Shanahan went in with the idea of limiting McCaffrey somewhat.Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near rather
Cite this Entry
“Rather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rather. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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