RATHER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does rather mean? 

• RATHER (adverb)
  The adverb RATHER has 4 senses:

1. on the contrary

2. to some (great or small) extent

3. more readily or willingly

4. to a degree (not used with a negative)

  Familiarity information: RATHER used as an adverb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RATHER (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

On the contrary

Synonyms:

instead; rather

Context example:

used English terms instead of Latin ones

Sense 2

Meaning:

To some (great or small) extent

Synonyms:

kind of; kinda; rather; sort of

Context example:

he is kind of shy

Sense 3

Meaning:

More readily or willingly

Synonyms:

preferably; rather; sooner

Context example:

I'd sooner die than give up

Sense 4

Meaning:

To a degree (not used with a negative)

Synonyms:

quite; rather

Context example:

quite rich

 Context examples 

He had rather hoped that his wife's views on the stranger would be disappointed; but he soon found out that he had a different story to hear.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

“It is all one to me,” replied Thorpe rather angrily; and instantly turning his horse, they were on their way back to Bath.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Going down next morning rather earlier than usual, I paused outside the parlour door, on hearing my mother's voice.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

DTH is mediated by T cells rather than by antibodies.

(Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity, NCI Thesaurus)

A defined activity is a "kind of" activity rather than an "instance of" an activity.

(Defined Study Activity, NCI Thesaurus)

Lens-shaped and rather variable in size but approximately 5 m long.

(Chloroplast, NCI Thesaurus)

“It is certainly rather a curious production,” said Holmes.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She was a woman rather of sound than of quick abilities, whose difficulties in coming to any decision in this instance were great, from the opposition of two leading principles.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Furthermore, the results show that NM-MRI signal reflects concentrations of neuromelanin in tissue, rather than just the number of neuromelanin-containing neurons.

(Neuromelanin-sensitive MRI identified as a potential biomarker for psychosis, National Institutes of Health)

But the gods had given him a different environment, and he was moulded into a dog that was rather wolfish, but that was a dog and not a wolf.

(White Fang, by Jack London)