rather
on the contrary
How often you will meet it
Rank 262 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 83,997 times across 155,139 chapters — 0.040% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 500 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
adverb
- on the contrary also: instead rather than disappoint the children, he did two quick tricks before he lefthe didn't call; rather (or instead), he wrote her a letter
- to some (great or small) extent also: kind of, kinda, sort of it was rather coldthe party was rather nice
- more readily or willingly also: preferably, sooner clean it well, preferably with warm waterI'd rather be in Philadelphia
- to a degree (not used with a negative) also: quite quite tastyquite soon
rather in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
-
It's rather a new institution here in Tilford, but seems to be working finely.
Gloria and Treeless Street · Annie Hamilton Donnell · Chapter 1
-
He thought to himself hotly that it was good she was dead rather than see him shamed.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1
-
They suffered her to touch a little hand of each, passively rather than unwillingly, and let it go.
Christian's Mistake · Dinah Maria Mulock Craik · Chapter 1
-
Some of the parts are rather long, but all have been played by children of the age indicated in the text.
The White Christmas and other Merry · Walter Ben Hare · Chapter 1
-
It is not he who is revealed by the painter; it is rather the painter who, on the coloured canvas, reveals himself.
The Picture of Dorian Gray · Oscar Wilde · Chapter 1