rare

Adj

1. Very uncommon; scarce.
2. Small in number (but not unusual); infrequent; sparse.
3. Thin; of low density.
4. (UK, slang) Good; enjoyable.

Noun

A scarce or uncommon item.

Verb

1. (US, intransitive) To rear, rise up, start backwards.
2. (US, transitive) To rear, bring up, raise.

Opposite of

abnormal, atypical, common, endangered, exceptional, exotic, extraordinary, frequent, rare, strange, uncommon, unconventional, unique, unusual, well done

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɹɛə(ɹ)/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: rare

Cognate with Middle English: gesen

Cognate with Old English: gǣsne

Cognate with Middle English: seld

Cognate with Old English: selden

Cognate with Middle English: seldscene

Cognate with Old English: seldsēne

Inherited from Middle English: rere

Inherited from Old English: hrēr

Cognate with Old English: hrōr

In summary

From Middle English rare, from Old French rare, rere (“rare, uncommon”), from Latin rārus (“loose, spaced apart, thin, infrequent”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁reh₁- (“friable, thin”). Replaced native Middle English gesen (“rare, scarce”) (from Old English gǣsne), Middle English seld (“rare, uncommon”) (from Old English selden), and Middle English seldscene (“rare, rarely seen, infrequent”) (from Old English seldsēne).

Synonyms

uncommon

scarce

unusual

precious

sparse

thin

curious

infrequent

unique

novel

few

🤏

valuable

seldom

strange

singular

matchless

unequaled

extraordinary

rarely

half-baked

rarefied

excellent

bloody

🩸

unparalleled

occasional

rarified

little

scanty

in short supply

exceptional

difficult to obtain

unfrequent

raw

half-done

poor

small

odd

half-cooked

flag

abnormal

short

scant

isolated

internecine

exceptionally

ingenious

crude

incomparable

red

hope

Sentences

However , the cat is very rare now even in the national park .

Conservancy ecologists also monitor the populations of rare plants throughout the year .