rather

Adv

1. (not-comparable) Used to specify a choice or preference; preferably, in preference to. (Now usually followed by than)
2. (conjunctive, not-comparable) Used to introduce a contradiction; on the contrary.
3. (conjunctive, not-comparable) Introducing a qualification or clarification; more precisely. (Now usually preceded by or.)
4. (not-comparable) Somewhat, quite; to an unexpected degree.
5. (not-comparable, obsolete) More quickly.

Adj

Prior; earlier; former.

Intj

An enthusiastic affirmation.

Noun

A choice or a preference.

Verb

To prefer; to prefer to.

Opposite of

utterly

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɹɑː.ðə(ɹ)/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: rather

Inherited from Old English: hraþor

Cognate with Dutch: radder

Cognate with Dutch: rad

Cognate with German: gerade

In summary

From Middle English rather, from Old English hraþor, comparative of hraþe (“soon, early, fast”). More at rathe. Cognate with Dutch radder (“faster”), comparative of Dutch rad (“fast; quick”), German Low German radd, ratt (“rashly; quickly; hastily”), German gerade (“even; straight; direct”). By surface analysis, rathe + -er.

Synonyms

quite

fairly

somewhat

pretty

sufficiently

enough

preferably

instead

a little

very

sooner

better

more

considerably

a bit

ideally

on the contrary

but

slightly

readily

comparatively

to some extent

all the more

much more

really

easily

relatively

perhaps

certainly

further

the contrary

in preference

little

sort of

some

kind of

kinda

even

intensifier

instead of

willingly

however

hour

contrariwise

highly

gradually

appointment

gladly

most

moreover

Translations

piuttosto

bastante

plutôt

ziemlich

más bien

eher

abbastanza

lieber

tamelijk

assez

nogal

raczej

liever

vrij

🆓

bastante

Sentences

It is a register of the title rather than a register of deeds .

You're here rather early .

Haeckel did not support natural selection , rather believing in Lamarckism .

Physiological and fossil evidence therefore would make it rather unlikely that turtles were diapsids .

The firebox was made of steel rather than the rarer and more expensive copper .