rather

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: rä′thə(r), IPA ^(key): /ˈrɑː.ðə/
• (US) enPR: răth′ər or rä′thər, IPA ^(key): /ˈræð.ɚ/
• (AU) enPR: rä’thə or răth’ə, IPA ^(key): /ˈraː.ðə/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: rath‧er

Adverb

Positive rather

Comparative none

Superlative none

1. If something is rather large, different, difficult, etc., it is quite that way.

   I saw something rather unusual this morning.

2. When you would rather do something, you want to do it more than something else.

   I would rather see a film (than stay home).

3. instead of

   He went rather than stay behind and be alone.

4. You use or rather to change what you have just said.

   I went there, or rather I had planned to go there, last week.

Synonyms

• not
• instead

Interjection

Interjection rather

1. You use rather to show that you agree strongly.

   "Did you like the movie?" "Rather!"