rather

A2 Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled rayther and ruther

US /ˈræðɚ/ UK /ˈɹɑː.ðə(ɹ)/ See IPA manual

Freq #638

Meanings

1

adv
To a fairly large degree; quite.

It was rather cold outside this morning.
2

adv
Used to show what you prefer or would choose instead.

I'd rather stay home tonight than go out.
3

adv
Used to correct or give a more exact statement; or more precisely.

It wasn't a mistake; rather, it was done on purpose.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adv · to a fairly large degree;... fairly somewhat

2 adv · used to show what you... sooner

3 adv · used to correct or give a... instead

Word family

Derived forms ratherish

Appears in

Phrases (3)

See all

Etymology

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.

rather Middle English hraþor Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# rather

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** adv
**IPA (US):** /ˈræðɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈɹɑː.ðə(ɹ)/
**Frequency rank:** 638

## Meanings
1. To a fairly large degree; quite.
2. Used to show what you prefer or would choose instead.
3. Used to correct or give a more exact statement; or more precisely.

## Examples
- It was rather cold outside this morning.
- I'd rather stay home tonight than go out.
- It wasn't a mistake; rather, it was done on purpose.

## Derived Forms
- ratherish

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: rather
- Root: hraþor

## Etymology
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.

## AI Etymology
Rather comes 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. Modern senses include to a fairly large degree; quite. and used to show what you prefer or would choose instead.. The wider word family includes derivatives such as ratherish.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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