rather

Everyday

1. Rather means quite or a little, like «rather cold». tree →
2. «Would rather» means would prefer: «I'd rather walk». tree →
3. «Rather than» means instead of. tree →
4. «Or rather» is used to correct yourself and say something more exactly. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday talk, children say what they would rather do when choosing. In stories, rather is a softer way to say quite or very («It was rather dark»). In maths word problems, «rather than» shows a choice or a change. Phrases: would rather, I'd rather not, rather than, or rather, rather a lot.

Examples

• It's rather cold today, so take a coat. tree →
• I'd rather have pizza than pasta. tree →
• Would you rather swim or cycle? tree →
• She chose to walk rather than take the bus. tree →
• I'd rather not talk about it. tree →
• He was rather tired after the match. tree →
• The test was rather easy. tree →
• We left at six, or rather a bit after six. tree →
• ‘Happy!’ cried he; ‘say rather unhappy. tree →

Note

«Would rather» is followed by the base verb: «I'd rather go», not «I'd rather to go». «Rather» is British-sounding when it means quite; Americans often say «pretty». «Would you rather…?» is a popular question game.

In Jewish tradition

In the Psalms and Proverbs it means "in preference to" or "more than". Wisdom is chosen rather than gold. A wicked person loves falsehood rather than righteousness, and Job's soul chooses death rather than pain.

Interpretation. The tradition reads Proverbs as teaching that wisdom is worth more than silver and gold. The words about choosing between good and evil are taken as the test of a person's heart.

Examples

• SY 2:1, 3:1, so it is interesting that in this verse the tongue is rather portrayed as one of two binary poles. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) tree →
• However, this is grammatically peculiar, as immot is usually only the construct plural of אֵם em 'mother', whose absolute plural is rather אִמָּהוֹת immahot. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) tree →
• The meaning for the SY is: God did not make things by themselves, individually, but rather, He made all things in relationship to all other things. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) tree →
• Thou lovest evil more than good; falsehood rather than speaking righteousness. (Writings PSA.52.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold. (Writings PRO.8.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than these my bones. (Writings JOB.7.15, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

«Would rather» is followed by the base verb: «I'd rather go», not «I'd rather to go». «Rather» is British-sounding when it means quite; Americans often say «pretty». «Would you rather…?» is a popular question game.