Definition of rather in English:

rather

adverb ˈrɑːðəˈræðər

1would ratherUsed to indicate one's preference in a particular matter.
宁可，宁愿；最好
would you like some wine or would you rather stick to sherry?
你想喝葡萄酒还是宁肯坚持喝雪利酒？
she'd rather die than cause a scene
她宁可死也不愿意当众大吵大闹。
with clause I'd rather you didn't tell him
我宁愿你不要告诉他。
Example sentencesExamples
- They would rather sit on the couch and blame our leaders for their own inactivity.
- There are those among us who have never had much time for the royals, and who would rather be considered as citizens than subjects.
- I think I would rather have been at the ancient Greek Olympiads than at the one that's coming up.
- At home, it is true that he has usually been a risk-averse leader who would rather finesse a tough choice than make it.
- We would rather meet people face to face than communicate via e-mail.
- Virtually anyone would rather live off his own savings than a dole from the government.
- There's a side of the art world I would rather not get involved with.
- Call me old fashioned, but I would rather pay what it takes to get great services in the NHS than what it costs to go outside.
- Given the choice, she would rather spend her time helping tackle crime than out on a boozy tour of the town centre.
- When asked if he would rather be a tourist or on tour, he said a tourist.
- He would prefer no armies and would rather not die for his country, thank you.
- The council's political masters would rather watch while York chokes than get serious about exhaust fumes.
- Within my home country I have little freedom or choice, and would rather live elsewhere.
- They would rather be indoors working in a computerised environment.
- They would rather do things themselves, to make sure they are done properly.
- I would rather have somebody punch me in the face than spit at me.
- I cannot think of anybody else I would rather have as chief bridesmaid.
- Matt Williams, the coach, I'm sure would rather see us start like we did and finish like we did than the other way around.
- Nothing else matters to him, and he would rather live in the past than in the future.
- We all get impatient at times but most people have the maturity to hold this in check and would rather arrive late than risk not arriving at all.
Synonyms
by preference, sooner, preferably, from/by choice, more willingly, more readily
North American if I had my druthers
2as submodifier To a certain or significant extent or degree.
相当，颇
she's been behaving rather strangely
她一直行为古怪得很。
he's rather an unpleasant man
他是个颇为令人讨厌的人。
Example sentencesExamples
- The result is that the special relationship is rather like a marriage - for better or worse.
- He expected her to be panicking but in fact she thought it was quite funny and was rather proud that she managed to swim to the edge.
- It is entertaining to read but seems rather trivial in comparison with its predecessor.
- Evidence suggests that today's troubled teenagers are rather more well behaved.
- I didn't post about my Suffolk adventures yesterday, as quite frankly I was rather tired.
- No, he prefers his rather hazy studio playhouse to the glitz of Parisian nightlife.
- It's left me feeling rather insecure, and slightly terrified of the future.
- It's rather a good speech, ruined by his quite astonishingly poor delivery.
- We went to see Daredevil last night, a fairly good, if rather violent, superhero movie.
- In fact, the only communication he appears to have made on the matter was in a rather short letter two years ago.
- Alex, who is rather arrogant and unpleasant, begins to receive strange text messages.
- Some of the monkeys were friendly, but others were behaving rather oddly.
- It was rather unpleasant, but yet it sounded like the laugh of a person you could trust.
- At that moment he smelt a rather strong and very unpleasant smell.
- Yet however good it is, it seems rather tame compared to the provocative brilliance of his earlier work.
- The bad news is that popular sentiment in this matter is rather nationalistic.
- I was robbed of my walk today, kept indoors by a steady, rather unpleasant rain.
- It was, rather strangely, his extensive knowledge of astrology that led to his first appointment.
- Despite the rather grisly subject matter, it is a fascinating subject.
- At first glance, this seems a rather odd sort of charge to make, but it carries a good deal of weight.
Synonyms
quite, a bit, a little, fairly, slightly, somewhat, relatively, to some degree/extent, comparatively, moderately
informal pretty, sort of, kind of, kinda, ish
1. 2.1 Used before verbs so as to make the expression of a feeling or opinion less assertive.
  用以使表达的语气婉转有几分，有点儿
  I rather think he wants me to marry him
  我倒认为他想让我嫁给他。
  we were rather hoping you might do that for us
  我们倒是希望你可以为我们做那事。
  Example sentencesExamples
  Petunia flowers are fragile though and all the heavy rain had rather decimated an enormous hanging basket full of them that hangs on the side of the car port.
  I think that's rather damaged any hope the competition might have had of being regarded as one of record.
  We had rather hoped that you didn't expect anyone to believe that.
  She had rather expected me to be on my way to being Prime Minister as she had been told so by a fortune-teller on holiday.
  Considering the length of his name, I was rather hoping he would have a quiet evening at the office.
  Either way, opera managers like Barron rather hope there will be a shift in the popular mindset.
  I think our two nights in a field had rather spoilt us, though, as we set out south towards Shell Island.
  I'd rather hoped that we would see the desert dunes of Maspalomas as part of our trek.
  The last mile was a track, and we had rather dawdled, so reluctantly gave the pub a miss.
  Her affection for these people shines through the quaint freakishness, and I rather believe she understands precisely what she's trying to accomplish.
  I rather hope when quizzed about America she will deliver one of her famous soundbites.
  I rather enjoy the storylines of the supporting characters, partly because the writers tend to wind them up before they get too tedious.
  I didn't care what happened to anyone and rather hoped at least someone would die a horrible death.
  Still, she did not want to humiliate her friend and, once it was over, she rather hoped it would never be like that again.
  Mrs Foster said that although it was scary at first, she was rather hoping some of the pairs might fit.
  We get the impression that he was rather hoping to have something already in place by this stage in the game.
  The new management team had rather spread themselves around in observation positions in the first half.
  I have to admit, I was rather hoping he'd stumble on for a few more weeks and take the ID cards down with him.
  I rather think he was hoping to be able to foil their wicked searches with cunning legal hacks and so on.
  I rather suspect that my experience is not unique; what is perhaps unique is the fact that I am willing to talk about it.
  I was rather hoping that cycling that afternoon would be abandoned because of the wind.
3Used to suggest that the opposite of a previous statement is the case; on the contrary.
sentence adverb There is no shortage of basic skills in the workplace. Rather, the problem is poor management
工场缺乏的并不是基本技术，相反，问题在于管理不善。
Example sentencesExamples
- Contract law is not the enemy of parties to an agreement but, rather, their servant.
- She is famous, not for the work of her thesis but, rather, for her later experiments to slow down light.
- Yet its members still do not see it as leading opinion, rather as reacting to government initiatives.
- It prefers rather to say that it offers discounts to married couples.
- Of course, the trick with good or great ingredients is knowing exactly what to do with them, or rather what not to do with them.
- It isn't blue, they could safely say; rather, it is so clear it sparkles in the sunshine.
- This brief essay really has no conclusion; rather, this is the first volley in an ongoing discussion.
- It is not the kind of value people unite behind - rather, it is a recognition of difference.
- Like most predatory mammals he did not frighten easily - rather, he felt it was his job to frighten others.
- The second theory is never stated explicitly; rather, it is hinted at time and again.
- This again is not a factual assertion, rather a warning for the future.
- Reason does not determine what we think; rather, what we already think determines how we reason.
- Andrea wasn't the sort to nag, rather such a quiet, forbearing type that people would hold her up as an example.
- This is not a simple party concern but rather a matter of urgent national interest.
- Lynn has sacrificed nothing of herself; rather, she sounds rejuvenated and in excellent voice.
- It lacks the darkness of a true blues song but rather has the tender sort of heartbreak of a folk song.
- His triumph over adversity is never mentioned; rather, it is his reticence that they recall.
- Quakers have no fixed doctrines, rather expressing faith through action.
- It is not so much a matter of the Government having a bad immigration policy, but, rather, that it has no policy at all.
- This wasn't all about market value: rather, culture was being called upon to play a new role.
1. 3.1 More precisely.
  I walked, or rather limped, the two miles home
  我步行，确切点说，是一瘸一拐地走了两英里才回到家。
  Example sentencesExamples
  The technology, or rather the people behind it, are getting smarter.
  Our goal is to not just to survive, but, rather, to thrive in the society of the future.
  Modernisation is by no means overdone, or rather, when it is overdone, it is brazenly clever.
  They don't really know me all that well, or rather they know the 19 year old me who moved out 11 years ago.
  This is genuinely an oversight - or rather it is more a bit about everybody thinking that somebody else has done it.
  They walk, of course, or rather amble about by and large, as sheep do.
  This is where the equality argument is faulty, or rather misrepresenting reality.
  After some hedging and indecision, we decided, or rather chanced, to take a walk, it being a sunny October day.
  The team have held the line and, more importantly perhaps, held to their beliefs, or rather the manager's.
  Rob employs two assistants at the shop, or rather they just started showing up every day and he didn't have the heart to tell them not to.
  They were talking about football, or rather, one of them was, I don't think the other could get a word in.
  Woods has not written a bad book but, rather, it could have been a much better one.
  Generally I don't like remakes, or rather, I don't like the idea of a remake.
  It is not the law that stops us at a red light; rather, it is the consequence of what might happen if we do not stop.
  I don't mean so much when we have completed a degree, but rather when we are still studying.
  This suggests that she did not slip on the ramp but, rather, on the sidewalk.
  I've never had to worry about tax before, or rather I've never bothered worrying about tax.
  The crucial factor is not the absolute amount of nitrate in the leaf but, rather, the direction in which it is changing.
  As has been said before, this is a joint problem for clubs and the union and it needs a joint solution, or rather solutions.
  I just don't feel comfortable speaking, or rather trying to speak French.
  Synonyms
  more precisely, to be precise, to be exact, strictly speaking, correctly speaking
2. 3.2 Instead of; as opposed to.
  而不是
  she seemed indifferent rather than angry
  她好像是冷淡而不是愤怒。
  Example sentencesExamples
  Winning the presidency needs political rather than physical courage.
  They think of me as an idiot, a fool, some disheveled thing rather than one of them.
  Bloggers are also free to give their own opinions, rather than toe the party line in the way that some journalists have to.
  But obviously that is not by way of an order, it is by way of an expression of hope rather than anything else.
  The emphasis is on learning simple words and expressions while building vocabulary rather than grammar.
  If there are differences between the two cases they seem to us to be differences of scale or degree rather than of principle.
  Looking back now it was the shock of the event which made it significant rather than the after-effects.
  Instead, stick to key points and summaries, rather than big chunks of text.
  In the end, Adams decided to contact them himself rather than wait another day.
  But rather than keeping all the profits to himself, he has been sharing them with his fans.
  It's overwhelmingly likely he will die of old age in prison rather than be executed.
  The stereotype of lazy welfare mothers and fathers is an exception rather than a rule.
  Differences in mental health between married men and women were of type rather than degree.
  The failure has turned the summit into a significant setback rather than a step toward an accord.
  That has to be a question of opinion rather than fact, so it depends on what you make of the evidence.
  What I picked up were impressions, rather than a firm, detailed analysis.
  Get a life and fixate on your own physical imperfections rather than mine.
  Anyone with an ounce of compassion can see he is to be pitied rather than pilloried.
  So do they list a number for you to call instead, rather than waiting for them to call you back?
  Such intervention most often heightens divisions and tensions around the world rather than bringing peace.
  Synonyms
  more, more truly
  as opposed to, instead of
  on the contrary, quite the opposite, instead

exclamationrɑːˈðəːˈrɑːðəˈræðər

British dated

Used to express emphatic affirmation, agreement, or acceptance.
〈英，旧〉用以表示肯定、同意或赞同当然，的确
‘You are glad to be home, aren't you?’ ‘Rather!’
“回到家里很高兴，对吗？”“那当然。”
Example sentencesExamples
- ‘I agree, but I can't help thinking that demolishing the barracks is an added risk to the whole endeavor.’ ‘Rather,’ concurred Gavin.
- ‘We were at school together, weren't we Johnnie?’ ‘Yes, rather,’ said Johnnie.

Phrases

had rather
〈诗/文或古〉宁可，宁愿；最好是

archaic, literary Would rather.
〈诗/文或古〉宁可，宁愿；最好是
I had rather not see him
我最好不见他。
Example sentencesExamples
- Normally she would not read such things to Scott but since it was front-page news, she had rather Scott hear it from her than some warped rumors off the street.
- The studios had rather employ a screenwriter with eight disasters to his credit than a William Faulkner with none.
- I had rather see you dead than to see you as you are.
- Make him or her feel that he is the most interesting person in the world and there is no other place you had rather be at the moment and you are sure to be a hit.
- She had rather be outside, in the fresh air and sunshine.

rather you (or him or her etc.) than me

Used to convey that one would be reluctant oneself to undertake a particular task undertaken by someone else.
（用以表示自己不愿承担他人的任务或工程）那是你（或他、她）的事
‘I'm picking him up after lunch.’ ‘Rather you than me.’
“我午饭后接他。”“那是你的事。”
Example sentencesExamples
- The explosion scenes are amazing and it was great to watch the stunt man doing all the action shots - rather him than me.
- I mean most of us harbour feelings and desires to meet someone wonderful, but making an appeal on national TV - well rather him than me!
- Quite a daunting prospect ahead; rather him than me.
- I've given Dad a lift to the hospital this morning, he's got have an injection in his eye so he'll not be able to drive afterwards, rather him than me!
- That's a monumental task you've set yourself, rather you than me.

Origin

Old English hrathor 'earlier, sooner', comparative of hræthe 'without delay', from hræth 'prompt' (see rathe).

Rhymes

farther, father, lather

Definition of rather in US English:

rather

adverbˈræðərˈraT͟Hər

1would ratherUsed to indicate one's preference in a particular matter.
宁可，宁愿；最好
would you like some wine or would you rather stick to sherry?
你想喝葡萄酒还是宁肯坚持喝雪利酒？
she'd rather die than cause a scene
她宁可死也不愿意当众大吵大闹。
with clause I'd rather you not tell him
我宁愿你不要告诉他。
“You'd better ask her.” “I'd rather not.”
“你最好问她。”“我宁愿不。”
Example sentencesExamples
- Call me old fashioned, but I would rather pay what it takes to get great services in the NHS than what it costs to go outside.
- They would rather do things themselves, to make sure they are done properly.
- We would rather meet people face to face than communicate via e-mail.
- When asked if he would rather be a tourist or on tour, he said a tourist.
- The council's political masters would rather watch while York chokes than get serious about exhaust fumes.
- There's a side of the art world I would rather not get involved with.
- Given the choice, she would rather spend her time helping tackle crime than out on a boozy tour of the town centre.
- He would prefer no armies and would rather not die for his country, thank you.
- Virtually anyone would rather live off his own savings than a dole from the government.
- I would rather have somebody punch me in the face than spit at me.
- We all get impatient at times but most people have the maturity to hold this in check and would rather arrive late than risk not arriving at all.
- Nothing else matters to him, and he would rather live in the past than in the future.
- There are those among us who have never had much time for the royals, and who would rather be considered as citizens than subjects.
- At home, it is true that he has usually been a risk-averse leader who would rather finesse a tough choice than make it.
- I cannot think of anybody else I would rather have as chief bridesmaid.
- I think I would rather have been at the ancient Greek Olympiads than at the one that's coming up.
- Within my home country I have little freedom or choice, and would rather live elsewhere.
- They would rather sit on the couch and blame our leaders for their own inactivity.
- They would rather be indoors working in a computerised environment.
- Matt Williams, the coach, I'm sure would rather see us start like we did and finish like we did than the other way around.
Synonyms
by preference, sooner, preferably, by choice, from choice, more willingly, more readily
2as submodifier To a certain or significant extent or degree.
相当，颇
she's been behaving rather strangely
她一直行为古怪得很。
he's rather an unpleasant man
他是个颇为令人讨厌的人。
Example sentencesExamples
- Despite the rather grisly subject matter, it is a fascinating subject.
- At first glance, this seems a rather odd sort of charge to make, but it carries a good deal of weight.
- He expected her to be panicking but in fact she thought it was quite funny and was rather proud that she managed to swim to the edge.
- I didn't post about my Suffolk adventures yesterday, as quite frankly I was rather tired.
- Some of the monkeys were friendly, but others were behaving rather oddly.
- In fact, the only communication he appears to have made on the matter was in a rather short letter two years ago.
- I was robbed of my walk today, kept indoors by a steady, rather unpleasant rain.
- The result is that the special relationship is rather like a marriage - for better or worse.
- The bad news is that popular sentiment in this matter is rather nationalistic.
- It is entertaining to read but seems rather trivial in comparison with its predecessor.
- It's rather a good speech, ruined by his quite astonishingly poor delivery.
- At that moment he smelt a rather strong and very unpleasant smell.
- It's left me feeling rather insecure, and slightly terrified of the future.
- Alex, who is rather arrogant and unpleasant, begins to receive strange text messages.
- No, he prefers his rather hazy studio playhouse to the glitz of Parisian nightlife.
- We went to see Daredevil last night, a fairly good, if rather violent, superhero movie.
- Yet however good it is, it seems rather tame compared to the provocative brilliance of his earlier work.
- Evidence suggests that today's troubled teenagers are rather more well behaved.
- It was, rather strangely, his extensive knowledge of astrology that led to his first appointment.
- It was rather unpleasant, but yet it sounded like the laugh of a person you could trust.
Synonyms
quite, a bit, a little, fairly, slightly, somewhat, relatively, to some degree, to some extent, comparatively, moderately
1. 2.1 Used before verbs as a way of making the expression of a feeling or opinion less assertive.
  用以使表达的语气婉转有几分，有点儿
  I rather think he wants me to marry him
  我倒认为他想让我嫁给他。
  we were rather hoping you might do that for us
  我们倒是希望你可以为我们做那事。
  Example sentencesExamples
  I think that's rather damaged any hope the competition might have had of being regarded as one of record.
  I rather think he was hoping to be able to foil their wicked searches with cunning legal hacks and so on.
  Her affection for these people shines through the quaint freakishness, and I rather believe she understands precisely what she's trying to accomplish.
  Either way, opera managers like Barron rather hope there will be a shift in the popular mindset.
  Petunia flowers are fragile though and all the heavy rain had rather decimated an enormous hanging basket full of them that hangs on the side of the car port.
  I'd rather hoped that we would see the desert dunes of Maspalomas as part of our trek.
  Considering the length of his name, I was rather hoping he would have a quiet evening at the office.
  I rather hope when quizzed about America she will deliver one of her famous soundbites.
  Mrs Foster said that although it was scary at first, she was rather hoping some of the pairs might fit.
  Still, she did not want to humiliate her friend and, once it was over, she rather hoped it would never be like that again.
  I have to admit, I was rather hoping he'd stumble on for a few more weeks and take the ID cards down with him.
  The last mile was a track, and we had rather dawdled, so reluctantly gave the pub a miss.
  We get the impression that he was rather hoping to have something already in place by this stage in the game.
  The new management team had rather spread themselves around in observation positions in the first half.
  We had rather hoped that you didn't expect anyone to believe that.
  She had rather expected me to be on my way to being Prime Minister as she had been told so by a fortune-teller on holiday.
  I was rather hoping that cycling that afternoon would be abandoned because of the wind.
  I rather suspect that my experience is not unique; what is perhaps unique is the fact that I am willing to talk about it.
  I rather enjoy the storylines of the supporting characters, partly because the writers tend to wind them up before they get too tedious.
  I didn't care what happened to anyone and rather hoped at least someone would die a horrible death.
  I think our two nights in a field had rather spoilt us, though, as we set out south towards Shell Island.
3Used to precede an idea that is different or opposite to a previous statement.
sentence adverb There is no shortage of basic skills in the workplace. Rather, the problem is poor management
工场缺乏的并不是基本技术，相反，问题在于管理不善。
Example sentencesExamples
- Like most predatory mammals he did not frighten easily - rather, he felt it was his job to frighten others.
- Reason does not determine what we think; rather, what we already think determines how we reason.
- The second theory is never stated explicitly; rather, it is hinted at time and again.
- This is not a simple party concern but rather a matter of urgent national interest.
- Quakers have no fixed doctrines, rather expressing faith through action.
- Contract law is not the enemy of parties to an agreement but, rather, their servant.
- Of course, the trick with good or great ingredients is knowing exactly what to do with them, or rather what not to do with them.
- It lacks the darkness of a true blues song but rather has the tender sort of heartbreak of a folk song.
- This wasn't all about market value: rather, culture was being called upon to play a new role.
- It prefers rather to say that it offers discounts to married couples.
- She is famous, not for the work of her thesis but, rather, for her later experiments to slow down light.
- This again is not a factual assertion, rather a warning for the future.
- It is not the kind of value people unite behind - rather, it is a recognition of difference.
- This brief essay really has no conclusion; rather, this is the first volley in an ongoing discussion.
- His triumph over adversity is never mentioned; rather, it is his reticence that they recall.
- Andrea wasn't the sort to nag, rather such a quiet, forbearing type that people would hold her up as an example.
- Yet its members still do not see it as leading opinion, rather as reacting to government initiatives.
- It isn't blue, they could safely say; rather, it is so clear it sparkles in the sunshine.
- Lynn has sacrificed nothing of herself; rather, she sounds rejuvenated and in excellent voice.
- It is not so much a matter of the Government having a bad immigration policy, but, rather, that it has no policy at all.
1. 3.1 More precisely (used to modify or clarify something previously stated)
  用于修正或补充上文更确切些
  I walked, or rather limped, the two miles home
  我步行，确切点说，是一瘸一拐地走了两英里才回到家。
  Example sentencesExamples
  They were talking about football, or rather, one of them was, I don't think the other could get a word in.
  The technology, or rather the people behind it, are getting smarter.
  I don't mean so much when we have completed a degree, but rather when we are still studying.
  The team have held the line and, more importantly perhaps, held to their beliefs, or rather the manager's.
  I just don't feel comfortable speaking, or rather trying to speak French.
  As has been said before, this is a joint problem for clubs and the union and it needs a joint solution, or rather solutions.
  Modernisation is by no means overdone, or rather, when it is overdone, it is brazenly clever.
  This suggests that she did not slip on the ramp but, rather, on the sidewalk.
  This is genuinely an oversight - or rather it is more a bit about everybody thinking that somebody else has done it.
  They don't really know me all that well, or rather they know the 19 year old me who moved out 11 years ago.
  The crucial factor is not the absolute amount of nitrate in the leaf but, rather, the direction in which it is changing.
  Woods has not written a bad book but, rather, it could have been a much better one.
  It is not the law that stops us at a red light; rather, it is the consequence of what might happen if we do not stop.
  They walk, of course, or rather amble about by and large, as sheep do.
  I've never had to worry about tax before, or rather I've never bothered worrying about tax.
  Our goal is to not just to survive, but, rather, to thrive in the society of the future.
  This is where the equality argument is faulty, or rather misrepresenting reality.
  Rob employs two assistants at the shop, or rather they just started showing up every day and he didn't have the heart to tell them not to.
  Generally I don't like remakes, or rather, I don't like the idea of a remake.
  After some hedging and indecision, we decided, or rather chanced, to take a walk, it being a sunny October day.
  Synonyms
  more precisely, to be precise, to be exact, strictly speaking, correctly speaking
2. 3.2 Instead of; as opposed to.
  而不是
  she seemed indifferent rather than angry
  她好像是冷淡而不是愤怒。
  Example sentencesExamples
  Looking back now it was the shock of the event which made it significant rather than the after-effects.
  The failure has turned the summit into a significant setback rather than a step toward an accord.
  Get a life and fixate on your own physical imperfections rather than mine.
  So do they list a number for you to call instead, rather than waiting for them to call you back?
  But rather than keeping all the profits to himself, he has been sharing them with his fans.
  Bloggers are also free to give their own opinions, rather than toe the party line in the way that some journalists have to.
  Instead, stick to key points and summaries, rather than big chunks of text.
  Anyone with an ounce of compassion can see he is to be pitied rather than pilloried.
  Differences in mental health between married men and women were of type rather than degree.
  It's overwhelmingly likely he will die of old age in prison rather than be executed.
  If there are differences between the two cases they seem to us to be differences of scale or degree rather than of principle.
  That has to be a question of opinion rather than fact, so it depends on what you make of the evidence.
  Winning the presidency needs political rather than physical courage.
  They think of me as an idiot, a fool, some disheveled thing rather than one of them.
  But obviously that is not by way of an order, it is by way of an expression of hope rather than anything else.
  In the end, Adams decided to contact them himself rather than wait another day.
  The stereotype of lazy welfare mothers and fathers is an exception rather than a rule.
  The emphasis is on learning simple words and expressions while building vocabulary rather than grammar.
  What I picked up were impressions, rather than a firm, detailed analysis.
  Such intervention most often heightens divisions and tensions around the world rather than bringing peace.
  Synonyms
  more, more truly
  on the contrary, quite the opposite, instead

exclamationˈræðərˈraT͟Hər

British dated

Used to express emphatic affirmation, agreement, or acceptance.
〈英，旧〉用以表示肯定、同意或赞同当然，的确
“You are glad to be home, aren't you?” “Rather!”
“回到家里很高兴，对吗？”“那当然。”
Example sentencesExamples
- ‘I agree, but I can't help thinking that demolishing the barracks is an added risk to the whole endeavor.’ ‘Rather,’ concurred Gavin.
- ‘We were at school together, weren't we Johnnie?’ ‘Yes, rather,’ said Johnnie.

Phrases

had rather
〈诗/文或古〉宁可，宁愿；最好是

literary, archaic Would rather.
〈诗/文或古〉宁可，宁愿；最好是
I had rather not see him
我最好不见他。
Example sentencesExamples
- She had rather be outside, in the fresh air and sunshine.
- Make him or her feel that he is the most interesting person in the world and there is no other place you had rather be at the moment and you are sure to be a hit.
- Normally she would not read such things to Scott but since it was front-page news, she had rather Scott hear it from her than some warped rumors off the street.
- I had rather see you dead than to see you as you are.
- The studios had rather employ a screenwriter with eight disasters to his credit than a William Faulkner with none.

rather you (or him or her etc.) than me

Used to convey that one would be reluctant oneself to undertake a particular task or project undertaken by someone else.
（用以表示自己不愿承担他人的任务或工程）那是你（或他、她）的事
“I'm picking him up after lunch.” “Rather you than me.”
“我午饭后接他。”“那是你的事。”
Example sentencesExamples
- Quite a daunting prospect ahead; rather him than me.
- The explosion scenes are amazing and it was great to watch the stunt man doing all the action shots - rather him than me.
- I mean most of us harbour feelings and desires to meet someone wonderful, but making an appeal on national TV - well rather him than me!
- I've given Dad a lift to the hospital this morning, he's got have an injection in his eye so he'll not be able to drive afterwards, rather him than me!
- That's a monumental task you've set yourself, rather you than me.

Origin

Old English hrathor ‘earlier, sooner’, comparative of hræthe ‘without delay’, from hræth ‘prompt’ (see rathe).

单词	rather
释义	Definition of rather in English: rather adverb ˈrɑːðəˈræðər 1would ratherUsed to indicate one's preference in a particular matter. 宁可，宁愿；最好 would you like some wine or would you rather stick to sherry? 你想喝葡萄酒还是宁肯坚持喝雪利酒？ she'd rather die than cause a scene 她宁可死也不愿意当众大吵大闹。 with clause I'd rather you didn't tell him 我宁愿你不要告诉他。 Example sentencesExamples They would rather sit on the couch and blame our leaders for their own inactivity. There are those among us who have never had much time for the royals, and who would rather be considered as citizens than subjects. I think I would rather have been at the ancient Greek Olympiads than at the one that's coming up. At home, it is true that he has usually been a risk-averse leader who would rather finesse a tough choice than make it. We would rather meet people face to face than communicate via e-mail. Virtually anyone would rather live off his own savings than a dole from the government. There's a side of the art world I would rather not get involved with. Call me old fashioned, but I would rather pay what it takes to get great services in the NHS than what it costs to go outside. Given the choice, she would rather spend her time helping tackle crime than out on a boozy tour of the town centre. When asked if he would rather be a tourist or on tour, he said a tourist. He would prefer no armies and would rather not die for his country, thank you. The council's political masters would rather watch while York chokes than get serious about exhaust fumes. Within my home country I have little freedom or choice, and would rather live elsewhere. They would rather be indoors working in a computerised environment. They would rather do things themselves, to make sure they are done properly. I would rather have somebody punch me in the face than spit at me. I cannot think of anybody else I would rather have as chief bridesmaid. Matt Williams, the coach, I'm sure would rather see us start like we did and finish like we did than the other way around. Nothing else matters to him, and he would rather live in the past than in the future. We all get impatient at times but most people have the maturity to hold this in check and would rather arrive late than risk not arriving at all. Synonyms by preference, sooner, preferably, from/by choice, more willingly, more readily North American if I had my druthers 2as submodifier To a certain or significant extent or degree. 相当，颇 she's been behaving rather strangely 她一直行为古怪得很。 he's rather an unpleasant man 他是个颇为令人讨厌的人。 Example sentencesExamples The result is that the special relationship is rather like a marriage - for better or worse. He expected her to be panicking but in fact she thought it was quite funny and was rather proud that she managed to swim to the edge. It is entertaining to read but seems rather trivial in comparison with its predecessor. Evidence suggests that today's troubled teenagers are rather more well behaved. I didn't post about my Suffolk adventures yesterday, as quite frankly I was rather tired. No, he prefers his rather hazy studio playhouse to the glitz of Parisian nightlife. It's left me feeling rather insecure, and slightly terrified of the future. It's rather a good speech, ruined by his quite astonishingly poor delivery. We went to see Daredevil last night, a fairly good, if rather violent, superhero movie. In fact, the only communication he appears to have made on the matter was in a rather short letter two years ago. Alex, who is rather arrogant and unpleasant, begins to receive strange text messages. Some of the monkeys were friendly, but others were behaving rather oddly. It was rather unpleasant, but yet it sounded like the laugh of a person you could trust. At that moment he smelt a rather strong and very unpleasant smell. Yet however good it is, it seems rather tame compared to the provocative brilliance of his earlier work. The bad news is that popular sentiment in this matter is rather nationalistic. I was robbed of my walk today, kept indoors by a steady, rather unpleasant rain. It was, rather strangely, his extensive knowledge of astrology that led to his first appointment. Despite the rather grisly subject matter, it is a fascinating subject. At first glance, this seems a rather odd sort of charge to make, but it carries a good deal of weight. Synonyms quite, a bit, a little, fairly, slightly, somewhat, relatively, to some degree/extent, comparatively, moderately informal pretty, sort of, kind of, kinda, ish 2.1 Used before verbs so as to make the expression of a feeling or opinion less assertive. 用以使表达的语气婉转有几分，有点儿 I rather think he wants me to marry him 我倒认为他想让我嫁给他。 we were rather hoping you might do that for us 我们倒是希望你可以为我们做那事。 Example sentencesExamples Petunia flowers are fragile though and all the heavy rain had rather decimated an enormous hanging basket full of them that hangs on the side of the car port. I think that's rather damaged any hope the competition might have had of being regarded as one of record. We had rather hoped that you didn't expect anyone to believe that. She had rather expected me to be on my way to being Prime Minister as she had been told so by a fortune-teller on holiday. Considering the length of his name, I was rather hoping he would have a quiet evening at the office. Either way, opera managers like Barron rather hope there will be a shift in the popular mindset. I think our two nights in a field had rather spoilt us, though, as we set out south towards Shell Island. I'd rather hoped that we would see the desert dunes of Maspalomas as part of our trek. The last mile was a track, and we had rather dawdled, so reluctantly gave the pub a miss. Her affection for these people shines through the quaint freakishness, and I rather believe she understands precisely what she's trying to accomplish. I rather hope when quizzed about America she will deliver one of her famous soundbites. I rather enjoy the storylines of the supporting characters, partly because the writers tend to wind them up before they get too tedious. I didn't care what happened to anyone and rather hoped at least someone would die a horrible death. Still, she did not want to humiliate her friend and, once it was over, she rather hoped it would never be like that again. Mrs Foster said that although it was scary at first, she was rather hoping some of the pairs might fit. We get the impression that he was rather hoping to have something already in place by this stage in the game. The new management team had rather spread themselves around in observation positions in the first half. I have to admit, I was rather hoping he'd stumble on for a few more weeks and take the ID cards down with him. I rather think he was hoping to be able to foil their wicked searches with cunning legal hacks and so on. I rather suspect that my experience is not unique; what is perhaps unique is the fact that I am willing to talk about it. I was rather hoping that cycling that afternoon would be abandoned because of the wind. 3Used to suggest that the opposite of a previous statement is the case; on the contrary. sentence adverb There is no shortage of basic skills in the workplace. Rather, the problem is poor management 工场缺乏的并不是基本技术，相反，问题在于管理不善。 Example sentencesExamples Contract law is not the enemy of parties to an agreement but, rather, their servant. She is famous, not for the work of her thesis but, rather, for her later experiments to slow down light. Yet its members still do not see it as leading opinion, rather as reacting to government initiatives. It prefers rather to say that it offers discounts to married couples. Of course, the trick with good or great ingredients is knowing exactly what to do with them, or rather what not to do with them. It isn't blue, they could safely say; rather, it is so clear it sparkles in the sunshine. This brief essay really has no conclusion; rather, this is the first volley in an ongoing discussion. It is not the kind of value people unite behind - rather, it is a recognition of difference. Like most predatory mammals he did not frighten easily - rather, he felt it was his job to frighten others. The second theory is never stated explicitly; rather, it is hinted at time and again. This again is not a factual assertion, rather a warning for the future. Reason does not determine what we think; rather, what we already think determines how we reason. Andrea wasn't the sort to nag, rather such a quiet, forbearing type that people would hold her up as an example. This is not a simple party concern but rather a matter of urgent national interest. Lynn has sacrificed nothing of herself; rather, she sounds rejuvenated and in excellent voice. It lacks the darkness of a true blues song but rather has the tender sort of heartbreak of a folk song. His triumph over adversity is never mentioned; rather, it is his reticence that they recall. Quakers have no fixed doctrines, rather expressing faith through action. It is not so much a matter of the Government having a bad immigration policy, but, rather, that it has no policy at all. This wasn't all about market value: rather, culture was being called upon to play a new role. 3.1 More precisely. I walked, or rather limped, the two miles home 我步行，确切点说，是一瘸一拐地走了两英里才回到家。 Example sentencesExamples The technology, or rather the people behind it, are getting smarter. Our goal is to not just to survive, but, rather, to thrive in the society of the future. Modernisation is by no means overdone, or rather, when it is overdone, it is brazenly clever. They don't really know me all that well, or rather they know the 19 year old me who moved out 11 years ago. This is genuinely an oversight - or rather it is more a bit about everybody thinking that somebody else has done it. They walk, of course, or rather amble about by and large, as sheep do. This is where the equality argument is faulty, or rather misrepresenting reality. After some hedging and indecision, we decided, or rather chanced, to take a walk, it being a sunny October day. The team have held the line and, more importantly perhaps, held to their beliefs, or rather the manager's. Rob employs two assistants at the shop, or rather they just started showing up every day and he didn't have the heart to tell them not to. They were talking about football, or rather, one of them was, I don't think the other could get a word in. Woods has not written a bad book but, rather, it could have been a much better one. Generally I don't like remakes, or rather, I don't like the idea of a remake. It is not the law that stops us at a red light; rather, it is the consequence of what might happen if we do not stop. I don't mean so much when we have completed a degree, but rather when we are still studying. This suggests that she did not slip on the ramp but, rather, on the sidewalk. I've never had to worry about tax before, or rather I've never bothered worrying about tax. The crucial factor is not the absolute amount of nitrate in the leaf but, rather, the direction in which it is changing. As has been said before, this is a joint problem for clubs and the union and it needs a joint solution, or rather solutions. I just don't feel comfortable speaking, or rather trying to speak French. Synonyms more precisely, to be precise, to be exact, strictly speaking, correctly speaking 3.2 Instead of; as opposed to. 而不是 she seemed indifferent rather than angry 她好像是冷淡而不是愤怒。 Example sentencesExamples Winning the presidency needs political rather than physical courage. They think of me as an idiot, a fool, some disheveled thing rather than one of them. Bloggers are also free to give their own opinions, rather than toe the party line in the way that some journalists have to. But obviously that is not by way of an order, it is by way of an expression of hope rather than anything else. The emphasis is on learning simple words and expressions while building vocabulary rather than grammar. If there are differences between the two cases they seem to us to be differences of scale or degree rather than of principle. Looking back now it was the shock of the event which made it significant rather than the after-effects. Instead, stick to key points and summaries, rather than big chunks of text. In the end, Adams decided to contact them himself rather than wait another day. But rather than keeping all the profits to himself, he has been sharing them with his fans. It's overwhelmingly likely he will die of old age in prison rather than be executed. The stereotype of lazy welfare mothers and fathers is an exception rather than a rule. Differences in mental health between married men and women were of type rather than degree. The failure has turned the summit into a significant setback rather than a step toward an accord. That has to be a question of opinion rather than fact, so it depends on what you make of the evidence. What I picked up were impressions, rather than a firm, detailed analysis. Get a life and fixate on your own physical imperfections rather than mine. Anyone with an ounce of compassion can see he is to be pitied rather than pilloried. So do they list a number for you to call instead, rather than waiting for them to call you back? Such intervention most often heightens divisions and tensions around the world rather than bringing peace. Synonyms more, more truly as opposed to, instead of on the contrary, quite the opposite, instead exclamationrɑːˈðəːˈrɑːðəˈræðər British dated Used to express emphatic affirmation, agreement, or acceptance. 〈英，旧〉用以表示肯定、同意或赞同当然，的确 ‘You are glad to be home, aren't you?’ ‘Rather!’ “回到家里很高兴，对吗？”“那当然。” Example sentencesExamples ‘I agree, but I can't help thinking that demolishing the barracks is an added risk to the whole endeavor.’ ‘Rather,’ concurred Gavin. ‘We were at school together, weren't we Johnnie?’ ‘Yes, rather,’ said Johnnie. Phrases had rather 〈诗/文或古〉宁可，宁愿；最好是 archaic, literary Would rather. 〈诗/文或古〉宁可，宁愿；最好是 I had rather not see him 我最好不见他。 Example sentencesExamples Normally she would not read such things to Scott but since it was front-page news, she had rather Scott hear it from her than some warped rumors off the street. The studios had rather employ a screenwriter with eight disasters to his credit than a William Faulkner with none. I had rather see you dead than to see you as you are. Make him or her feel that he is the most interesting person in the world and there is no other place you had rather be at the moment and you are sure to be a hit. She had rather be outside, in the fresh air and sunshine. rather you (or him or her etc.) than me Used to convey that one would be reluctant oneself to undertake a particular task undertaken by someone else. （用以表示自己不愿承担他人的任务或工程）那是你（或他、她）的事 ‘I'm picking him up after lunch.’ ‘Rather you than me.’ “我午饭后接他。”“那是你的事。” Example sentencesExamples The explosion scenes are amazing and it was great to watch the stunt man doing all the action shots - rather him than me. I mean most of us harbour feelings and desires to meet someone wonderful, but making an appeal on national TV - well rather him than me! Quite a daunting prospect ahead; rather him than me. I've given Dad a lift to the hospital this morning, he's got have an injection in his eye so he'll not be able to drive afterwards, rather him than me! That's a monumental task you've set yourself, rather you than me. Origin Old English hrathor 'earlier, sooner', comparative of hræthe 'without delay', from hræth 'prompt' (see rathe). Rhymes farther, father, lather adv..1 phr. Definition of rather in US English: rather adverbˈræðərˈraT͟Hər 1would ratherUsed to indicate one's preference in a particular matter. 宁可，宁愿；最好 would you like some wine or would you rather stick to sherry? 你想喝葡萄酒还是宁肯坚持喝雪利酒？ she'd rather die than cause a scene 她宁可死也不愿意当众大吵大闹。 with clause I'd rather you not tell him 我宁愿你不要告诉他。 “You'd better ask her.” “I'd rather not.” “你最好问她。”“我宁愿不。” Example sentencesExamples Call me old fashioned, but I would rather pay what it takes to get great services in the NHS than what it costs to go outside. They would rather do things themselves, to make sure they are done properly. We would rather meet people face to face than communicate via e-mail. When asked if he would rather be a tourist or on tour, he said a tourist. The council's political masters would rather watch while York chokes than get serious about exhaust fumes. There's a side of the art world I would rather not get involved with. Given the choice, she would rather spend her time helping tackle crime than out on a boozy tour of the town centre. He would prefer no armies and would rather not die for his country, thank you. Virtually anyone would rather live off his own savings than a dole from the government. I would rather have somebody punch me in the face than spit at me. We all get impatient at times but most people have the maturity to hold this in check and would rather arrive late than risk not arriving at all. Nothing else matters to him, and he would rather live in the past than in the future. There are those among us who have never had much time for the royals, and who would rather be considered as citizens than subjects. At home, it is true that he has usually been a risk-averse leader who would rather finesse a tough choice than make it. I cannot think of anybody else I would rather have as chief bridesmaid. I think I would rather have been at the ancient Greek Olympiads than at the one that's coming up. Within my home country I have little freedom or choice, and would rather live elsewhere. They would rather sit on the couch and blame our leaders for their own inactivity. They would rather be indoors working in a computerised environment. Matt Williams, the coach, I'm sure would rather see us start like we did and finish like we did than the other way around. Synonyms by preference, sooner, preferably, by choice, from choice, more willingly, more readily 2as submodifier To a certain or significant extent or degree. 相当，颇 she's been behaving rather strangely 她一直行为古怪得很。 he's rather an unpleasant man 他是个颇为令人讨厌的人。 Example sentencesExamples Despite the rather grisly subject matter, it is a fascinating subject. At first glance, this seems a rather odd sort of charge to make, but it carries a good deal of weight. He expected her to be panicking but in fact she thought it was quite funny and was rather proud that she managed to swim to the edge. I didn't post about my Suffolk adventures yesterday, as quite frankly I was rather tired. Some of the monkeys were friendly, but others were behaving rather oddly. In fact, the only communication he appears to have made on the matter was in a rather short letter two years ago. I was robbed of my walk today, kept indoors by a steady, rather unpleasant rain. The result is that the special relationship is rather like a marriage - for better or worse. The bad news is that popular sentiment in this matter is rather nationalistic. It is entertaining to read but seems rather trivial in comparison with its predecessor. It's rather a good speech, ruined by his quite astonishingly poor delivery. At that moment he smelt a rather strong and very unpleasant smell. It's left me feeling rather insecure, and slightly terrified of the future. Alex, who is rather arrogant and unpleasant, begins to receive strange text messages. No, he prefers his rather hazy studio playhouse to the glitz of Parisian nightlife. We went to see Daredevil last night, a fairly good, if rather violent, superhero movie. Yet however good it is, it seems rather tame compared to the provocative brilliance of his earlier work. Evidence suggests that today's troubled teenagers are rather more well behaved. It was, rather strangely, his extensive knowledge of astrology that led to his first appointment. It was rather unpleasant, but yet it sounded like the laugh of a person you could trust. Synonyms quite, a bit, a little, fairly, slightly, somewhat, relatively, to some degree, to some extent, comparatively, moderately 2.1 Used before verbs as a way of making the expression of a feeling or opinion less assertive. 用以使表达的语气婉转有几分，有点儿 I rather think he wants me to marry him 我倒认为他想让我嫁给他。 we were rather hoping you might do that for us 我们倒是希望你可以为我们做那事。 Example sentencesExamples I think that's rather damaged any hope the competition might have had of being regarded as one of record. I rather think he was hoping to be able to foil their wicked searches with cunning legal hacks and so on. Her affection for these people shines through the quaint freakishness, and I rather believe she understands precisely what she's trying to accomplish. Either way, opera managers like Barron rather hope there will be a shift in the popular mindset. Petunia flowers are fragile though and all the heavy rain had rather decimated an enormous hanging basket full of them that hangs on the side of the car port. I'd rather hoped that we would see the desert dunes of Maspalomas as part of our trek. Considering the length of his name, I was rather hoping he would have a quiet evening at the office. I rather hope when quizzed about America she will deliver one of her famous soundbites. Mrs Foster said that although it was scary at first, she was rather hoping some of the pairs might fit. Still, she did not want to humiliate her friend and, once it was over, she rather hoped it would never be like that again. I have to admit, I was rather hoping he'd stumble on for a few more weeks and take the ID cards down with him. The last mile was a track, and we had rather dawdled, so reluctantly gave the pub a miss. We get the impression that he was rather hoping to have something already in place by this stage in the game. The new management team had rather spread themselves around in observation positions in the first half. We had rather hoped that you didn't expect anyone to believe that. She had rather expected me to be on my way to being Prime Minister as she had been told so by a fortune-teller on holiday. I was rather hoping that cycling that afternoon would be abandoned because of the wind. I rather suspect that my experience is not unique; what is perhaps unique is the fact that I am willing to talk about it. I rather enjoy the storylines of the supporting characters, partly because the writers tend to wind them up before they get too tedious. I didn't care what happened to anyone and rather hoped at least someone would die a horrible death. I think our two nights in a field had rather spoilt us, though, as we set out south towards Shell Island. 3Used to precede an idea that is different or opposite to a previous statement. sentence adverb There is no shortage of basic skills in the workplace. Rather, the problem is poor management 工场缺乏的并不是基本技术，相反，问题在于管理不善。 Example sentencesExamples Like most predatory mammals he did not frighten easily - rather, he felt it was his job to frighten others. Reason does not determine what we think; rather, what we already think determines how we reason. The second theory is never stated explicitly; rather, it is hinted at time and again. This is not a simple party concern but rather a matter of urgent national interest. Quakers have no fixed doctrines, rather expressing faith through action. Contract law is not the enemy of parties to an agreement but, rather, their servant. Of course, the trick with good or great ingredients is knowing exactly what to do with them, or rather what not to do with them. It lacks the darkness of a true blues song but rather has the tender sort of heartbreak of a folk song. This wasn't all about market value: rather, culture was being called upon to play a new role. It prefers rather to say that it offers discounts to married couples. She is famous, not for the work of her thesis but, rather, for her later experiments to slow down light. This again is not a factual assertion, rather a warning for the future. It is not the kind of value people unite behind - rather, it is a recognition of difference. This brief essay really has no conclusion; rather, this is the first volley in an ongoing discussion. His triumph over adversity is never mentioned; rather, it is his reticence that they recall. Andrea wasn't the sort to nag, rather such a quiet, forbearing type that people would hold her up as an example. Yet its members still do not see it as leading opinion, rather as reacting to government initiatives. It isn't blue, they could safely say; rather, it is so clear it sparkles in the sunshine. Lynn has sacrificed nothing of herself; rather, she sounds rejuvenated and in excellent voice. It is not so much a matter of the Government having a bad immigration policy, but, rather, that it has no policy at all. 3.1 More precisely (used to modify or clarify something previously stated) 用于修正或补充上文更确切些 I walked, or rather limped, the two miles home 我步行，确切点说，是一瘸一拐地走了两英里才回到家。 Example sentencesExamples They were talking about football, or rather, one of them was, I don't think the other could get a word in. The technology, or rather the people behind it, are getting smarter. I don't mean so much when we have completed a degree, but rather when we are still studying. The team have held the line and, more importantly perhaps, held to their beliefs, or rather the manager's. I just don't feel comfortable speaking, or rather trying to speak French. As has been said before, this is a joint problem for clubs and the union and it needs a joint solution, or rather solutions. Modernisation is by no means overdone, or rather, when it is overdone, it is brazenly clever. This suggests that she did not slip on the ramp but, rather, on the sidewalk. This is genuinely an oversight - or rather it is more a bit about everybody thinking that somebody else has done it. They don't really know me all that well, or rather they know the 19 year old me who moved out 11 years ago. The crucial factor is not the absolute amount of nitrate in the leaf but, rather, the direction in which it is changing. Woods has not written a bad book but, rather, it could have been a much better one. It is not the law that stops us at a red light; rather, it is the consequence of what might happen if we do not stop. They walk, of course, or rather amble about by and large, as sheep do. I've never had to worry about tax before, or rather I've never bothered worrying about tax. Our goal is to not just to survive, but, rather, to thrive in the society of the future. This is where the equality argument is faulty, or rather misrepresenting reality. Rob employs two assistants at the shop, or rather they just started showing up every day and he didn't have the heart to tell them not to. Generally I don't like remakes, or rather, I don't like the idea of a remake. After some hedging and indecision, we decided, or rather chanced, to take a walk, it being a sunny October day. Synonyms more precisely, to be precise, to be exact, strictly speaking, correctly speaking 3.2 Instead of; as opposed to. 而不是 she seemed indifferent rather than angry 她好像是冷淡而不是愤怒。 Example sentencesExamples Looking back now it was the shock of the event which made it significant rather than the after-effects. The failure has turned the summit into a significant setback rather than a step toward an accord. Get a life and fixate on your own physical imperfections rather than mine. So do they list a number for you to call instead, rather than waiting for them to call you back? But rather than keeping all the profits to himself, he has been sharing them with his fans. Bloggers are also free to give their own opinions, rather than toe the party line in the way that some journalists have to. Instead, stick to key points and summaries, rather than big chunks of text. Anyone with an ounce of compassion can see he is to be pitied rather than pilloried. Differences in mental health between married men and women were of type rather than degree. It's overwhelmingly likely he will die of old age in prison rather than be executed. If there are differences between the two cases they seem to us to be differences of scale or degree rather than of principle. That has to be a question of opinion rather than fact, so it depends on what you make of the evidence. Winning the presidency needs political rather than physical courage. They think of me as an idiot, a fool, some disheveled thing rather than one of them. But obviously that is not by way of an order, it is by way of an expression of hope rather than anything else. In the end, Adams decided to contact them himself rather than wait another day. The stereotype of lazy welfare mothers and fathers is an exception rather than a rule. The emphasis is on learning simple words and expressions while building vocabulary rather than grammar. What I picked up were impressions, rather than a firm, detailed analysis. Such intervention most often heightens divisions and tensions around the world rather than bringing peace. Synonyms more, more truly on the contrary, quite the opposite, instead exclamationˈræðərˈraT͟Hər British dated Used to express emphatic affirmation, agreement, or acceptance. 〈英，旧〉用以表示肯定、同意或赞同当然，的确 “You are glad to be home, aren't you?” “Rather!” “回到家里很高兴，对吗？”“那当然。” Example sentencesExamples ‘I agree, but I can't help thinking that demolishing the barracks is an added risk to the whole endeavor.’ ‘Rather,’ concurred Gavin. ‘We were at school together, weren't we Johnnie?’ ‘Yes, rather,’ said Johnnie. Phrases had rather 〈诗/文或古〉宁可，宁愿；最好是 literary, archaic Would rather. 〈诗/文或古〉宁可，宁愿；最好是 I had rather not see him 我最好不见他。 Example sentencesExamples She had rather be outside, in the fresh air and sunshine. Make him or her feel that he is the most interesting person in the world and there is no other place you had rather be at the moment and you are sure to be a hit. Normally she would not read such things to Scott but since it was front-page news, she had rather Scott hear it from her than some warped rumors off the street. I had rather see you dead than to see you as you are. The studios had rather employ a screenwriter with eight disasters to his credit than a William Faulkner with none. rather you (or him or her etc.) than me Used to convey that one would be reluctant oneself to undertake a particular task or project undertaken by someone else. （用以表示自己不愿承担他人的任务或工程）那是你（或他、她）的事 “I'm picking him up after lunch.” “Rather you than me.” “我午饭后接他。”“那是你的事。” Example sentencesExamples Quite a daunting prospect ahead; rather him than me. The explosion scenes are amazing and it was great to watch the stunt man doing all the action shots - rather him than me. I mean most of us harbour feelings and desires to meet someone wonderful, but making an appeal on national TV - well rather him than me! I've given Dad a lift to the hospital this morning, he's got have an injection in his eye so he'll not be able to drive afterwards, rather him than me! That's a monumental task you've set yourself, rather you than me. Origin Old English hrathor ‘earlier, sooner’, comparative of hræthe ‘without delay’, from hræth ‘prompt’ (see rathe). adv..1 phr.
随便看	kinderwhore kind-hearted kind-heartedly kindheartedly kind-heartedly kind-heartedness kindheartedness kind-heartedness kind-heartednesses kindheartednesses kindies kind/kindest regards kindle kindle-coal kindled kindle-fire kindler kindler kindles kindless kindlessly kindlessly kindlier kindliest kindlily