rather
gb/ɹˈæðɚ/ us/ɹˈæðɚ/
A2
English
~ 300
elég, meglehetősen, pontosabban, jobban mondva, inkább, szívesebben
B1
1
elég
A2
meglehetősen
B2
Usage pattern:
rather [adjective/adverb]
The weather was rather cold for May.
Májushoz képest elég hideg volt az idő.
She’s rather good at painting.
Elég ügyesen fest.
It was rather difficult to hear him over the noise.
I found the movie rather boring.
This cake is rather sweet for my taste.
Learner examples
It is rather hot today.
Ma elég meleg van.
He is rather tall for his age.
Elég magas a korához képest.
The book is rather easy to read.
She looks rather tired.
The soup is rather salty.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'rather' with 'very', but 'rather' usually means moderately, not extremely.
Meaning
to some extent or degree
Collocations
rather good
|rather difficult
|rather nice
|rather cold
Synonyms
somewhat (Slightly more formal; often interchangeable in neutral contexts.)
|
fairly (Very similar meaning, though 'fairly' can sometimes sound more positive.)
Antonyms
extremely (Indicates a much higher degree instead of a moderate one.)
|
slightly (Indicates a smaller degree than 'rather'.)
Themes
daily life
|description
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Used to mean 'a little' or 'not completely'.
Used to indicate a moderate amount or degree; somewhat.
B2
2
pontosabban
B1
Usage pattern:
[statement], rather, [correction]
He lives in Paris—or rather, just outside it.
Párizsban él – pontosabban közvetlenül a városon kívül.
I think it was Tuesday—rather, it must have been Wednesday.
Azt hiszem, kedden volt – pontosabban biztosan szerdán volt.
The meeting is next week, or rather, the week after.
Learner examples
It is blue, or rather, light blue.
Kék, jobban mondva világoskék.
He is a teacher, or rather, he was a teacher.
Ő tanár – pontosabban tanár volt.
She lives in Rome, or rather, near Rome.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this sense is used for self-correction and not for expressing preference.
Meaning
more exactly or correctly
Collocations
or rather
|I mean rather
|rather, it is
Synonyms
instead (Implies replacement, but not necessarily correction of a minor error.)
|
more precisely (More formal and explicit than 'rather'.)
Themes
communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Used to change what you just said to something more correct.
Used to introduce a correction or a more accurate statement.
A2
3
inkább
A2
szívesebben
B1
Usage pattern:
would rather [verb] than [verb]
I’d rather stay home tonight than go out.
Ma este inkább otthon maradnék, mint hogy elmenjek.
She said she’d rather walk than take the bus.
Azt mondta, inkább gyalog menne, mint hogy busszal menjen.
We would rather not discuss that topic right now.
Learner examples
I would rather eat pizza than pasta.
Inkább pizzát ennék, mint tésztát.
He would rather play football than watch TV.
Inkább focizna, mint tévét nézne.
They would rather stay at home today.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes forget to use the base form of the verb after 'would rather'.
Meaning
more willingly; preferably
Collocations
would rather go
|would rather stay
|would rather not
Synonyms
preferably (More formal; often used in written instructions.)
|
sooner (Informal alternative, often used in 'sooner than' structures.)
Antonyms
reluctantly (Expresses doing something without wanting to, opposite of preference.)
Themes
daily life
|preferences
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Used to say you like one thing more than another.
Used to indicate preference for one thing over another.
Grammar
Dictionary form
rather
IPA
GB/ɹˈæðɚ/
US/ɹˈæðɚ/
Syllables & stress
rather (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (rather)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: rather
- Plural: rathers
Word family
Forms
rathers
noun
Expressions
would rather
1/wˈʊd ɹˈæðɚ/
fixed phrase
expressing a preference for one thing over another
Used to say you like one thing more than another thing.
Examples
- I would rather read a book than watch TV.
- They’d rather go by train than fly.
or rather
1/ˈɔɹ ɹˈæðɚ/
fixed phrase
used to correct or clarify
Used to change what you just said to something more correct or exact.
Examples
- It happened on Monday—or rather, very early Tuesday morning.
- He’s from Spain—or rather, from Catalonia.
or rather
2/ˈɔɹ ɹˈæðɚ/
fixed phrase
Correction to previous statement
Used to change what you just said to make it more correct.
Examples
- It happened last week, or rather, eight days ago.
- She’s my colleague, or rather, my former colleague.
rather than
1/ɹˈæðɚ ðən/
fixed phrase
instead of something else
Used to say that one thing is chosen instead of another thing.
Examples
- I chose tea rather than coffee.
- He decided to walk rather than drive.
- He decided to walk rather than take the bus.
- She chose tea rather than coffee.