Meaning of rather In English

• 0 quite; to a slight degree:

  • It's rather cold today, isn't it?

  • That's rather a difficult book - here's an easier one for you.

  • The train was rather too crowded for a comfortable journey.

  • She answered the phone rather sleepily.

  • I rather doubt I'll be able to come to your party.

• 1 more accurately; more exactly:

  • She'll fly to California on Thursday, or rather, she will if she has to.

  • He's my sister's friend really, rather than mine.

  • The ending of the war is not a cause for celebration, but rather for regret that it ever happened.

  • No, I'm not tired. Rather the opposite in fact.

• 2 instead of; used especially when you prefer one thing to another:

  • I think I'd like to stay at home this evening rather than go out.

• 3 used to show that you prefer to have or do one thing more than another:

  • I'd rather have a beer.

  • Which would you rather do - go swimming or play tennis?

  • Wouldn't you rather finish it tomorrow?

  • He'd rather die than (= he certainly does not want to) let me think he needed help.

• 4 very; to a large degree:

  • Actually, I did rather well in my exams.

  • I've got rather a lot of work to do at the moment.

• 5 certainly; yes:

  • "Do you want to come out for dinner with us this evening?" "Rather!"

• 6 in preference to, or as a preference:

  • She wants us to meet her here rather than go to her apartment.

  • I’d rather wear the black shoes.

  • She’s saying things that many would rather not hear.

• 7 more accurately; more exactly:

  • These were not common criminals, but rather enemies of the state.

• 8 to a noticeable degree; somewhat:

  • It all seems rather unimportant.