Definitions for rather
ˈræð ər, ˈrɑ ðərrather

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. rather, instead(adverb)

   on the contrary

   "rather than disappoint the children, he did two quick tricks before he left"; "he didn't call; rather (or instead), he wrote her a letter"; "used English terms instead of Latin ones"

2. rather, kind of, kinda, sort of(adverb)

   to some (great or small) extent

   "it was rather cold"; "the party was rather nice"; "the knife is rather dull"; "I rather regret that I cannot attend"; "He's rather good at playing the cello"; "he is kind of shy"

3. preferably, sooner, rather(adverb)

   more readily or willingly

   "clean it well, preferably with warm water"; "I'd rather be in Philadelphia"; "I'd sooner die than give up"

4. quite, rather(adverb)

   to a degree (not used with a negative)

   "quite tasty"; "quite soon"; "quite ill"; "quite rich"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. rather(Verb)

   To prefer; to prefer to.

2. rather(Adverb)

   More quickly; sooner, earlier.

3. rather(Adverb)

   Used to specify a choice or preference; preferably.

4. rather(Adverb)

   Used to introduce a contradiction; on the contrary.

5. rather(Adverb)

   Introducing a qualification or clarification; more precisely. (Now usually preceded by or.)

6. rather(Adverb)

   Somewhat, fairly.

Origin: From rather, rether, from hraþor, comparative of hraþe, equivalent to . More at rathe.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Rather(adj)

   prior; earlier; former

2. Rather(adj)

   earlier; sooner; before

3. Rather(adj)

   more readily or willingly; preferably

4. Rather(adj)

   on the other hand; to the contrary of what was said or suggested; instead

5. Rather(adj)

   of two alternatives conceived of, this by preference to, or as more likely than, the other; somewhat

6. Rather(adj)

   more properly; more correctly speaking

7. Rather(adj)

   in some degree; somewhat; as, the day is rather warm; the house is rather damp

Origin: [Compar. of Rath, a.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Rather

   räth′ėr, adv. more willingly: in preference: especially: more so than otherwise: on the contrary: somewhat, in some degree: more properly: (coll.) considerably, very much.—adj. Rath′erish, to a slight degree, somewhat.—Rather better than, somewhat in excess of.—The rather, by so much the more. [A.S. hrathor, comp. of hrathe, early.]

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'rather' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #444

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'rather' in Written Corpus Frequency: #442

3. Adverbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'rather' in Adverbs Frequency: #61

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of rather in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of rather in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of rather in a Sentence

1. Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

   It was a rather bumpy ride.

2. Alter Wiener:

   Be better, rather than bitter.

3. Lefty Gomez:

   I'd rather be lucky than good.

4. Teri Mastando:

   We were rather surprised by it.

5. Omima Adam:

   But I'd rather be cold than dead.

Images & Illustrations of rather

Popularity rank by frequency of use