rather

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adverb, predeterminer British English pronunciation: rather

/ˈrɑːðə(r)/

Rather can be used in the following ways:

as an adverb (before an adjective or another adverb): I’m feeling rather tired. ♦ She’s been treated rather badly. (before a verb): He rather enjoys telling other people what to do. (as an answer word): ‘Would you like to come for a ride?’ ‘Rather!’

as a predeterminer (followed by ‘a’): This is rather a good wine.

in the conjunction phrase rather than: It would be better to make a decision now, rather than leave it until later.

as a way of showing how a sentence is connected to what has already been said: His purpose was not so much to attack his rivals. Rather, it was to defend his own position.

Related thesaurus entries

would rather die

1
to a fairly large degree
some rather nice chocolate biscuits
He was rather a handsome boy.
I realize that I’ve been rather stupid and selfish.
Matt left rather suddenly without any explanation.
rather more/better/worse/bigger etc:
The problem is rather more complicated than we had expected.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of rather
1. a.
  mainly spoken a little too much, or to a degree that is slightly too great
  Don’t you think she’s rather young to be travelling abroad on her own?
  It’s a good essay, but rather long.
  rather too:
  Toby had drunk rather too much.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of rather
2
used for introducing a true statement after saying that another statement is not true
The purpose of Paxton’s book was not to make accusations. Rather, it was to provide information on which accusations might be based.
Our aim was not to punish the rich, but rather to bring justice to the poor.
3
used for correcting what you have just said
or rather:
He couldn’t help us, or rather he didn’t want to.
Who is Fred anyway, or rather who was he?
4
/ˌrɑːˈθɜː(r)/ British informal old-fashioned used for showing that you are very keen to do what someone has suggested
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of rather

phrases

rather than
used for saying that one thing is preferred to another or happens instead of another
Doug chose to quit rather than admit that he’d made a mistake.
Rather than criticizing your husband, why not find out if there’s something wrong?
We want the matter settled sooner rather than later.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of rather
would rather
used for saying that you would prefer to do something or that you would prefer that something happened
I’d rather you didn’t mention this matter to anyone else.
He doesn’t want to learn – he’d rather stay at home and play video games.
would rather...than:
They said they would rather die than abandon their homes.
would rather not (=would prefer not to do something):
You don’t need to come if you’d rather not.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of rather

This is the British English definition of rather. View American English definition of rather.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

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