| 释义 |
rather
rath·er R0052300 (răth′ər, rä′thər)adv.1. More readily; preferably: I'd rather go to the movies.2. More exactly; more accurately: He's my friend, or rather he was my friend.3. To a certain extent; somewhat: It's rather cold out. I was rather hoping you'd call.4. On the contrary: This is not a thoughtful criticism. Rather it is an insult.5. (ră′thûr′, rä′-) Chiefly British Most certainly. Used as an emphatic affirmative reply.
[Middle English, from Old English hrathor, comparative of hræthe, quickly, soon, from hræth, quick.]Usage Note: In expressions of preference rather is commonly preceded by would: We would rather rent the house than buy it outright. In formal style, should is sometimes used, though this can sound pretentious in American English: I should rather go with you than stay home. Sometimes had appears in these constructions, although this use of had seems to be growing less frequent: I had rather work with Williams than work for him. This usage was once widely criticized as a mistake, but the criticism resulted from a misanalysis of the contraction in sentences such as I'd rather stay. The 'd here is a survival of the subjunctive form had that appears in constructions like had better and had best, as in We had better leave now. This use of had goes back to Middle English and is perfectly acceptable. · Before an unmodified noun only rather a is used: It was rather a disaster. When the noun is preceded by an adjective, however, both rather a and a rather are found: It was rather a boring party. It was a rather boring party. Rather a is more typical of British English than American English. When a rather is used in this construction, rather qualifies only the adjective, whereas with rather a it qualifies either the adjective or the entire noun phrase. Thus a rather long ordeal can mean only "an ordeal that is rather long," whereas rather a long ordeal can also mean roughly "a long process that is something of an ordeal." Rather a is the only possible choice when the adjective itself does not permit modification: The horse was rather a long shot (not The horse was a rather long shot).rather (ˈrɑːðə) adv (in senses 1-4, not used with a negative) 1. relatively or fairly; somewhat: it's rather dull. 2. to a significant or noticeable extent; quite: she's rather pretty. 3. to a limited extent or degree: I rather thought that was the case. 4. with better or more just cause: this text is rather to be deleted than rewritten. 5. more readily or willingly; sooner: I would rather not see you tomorrow. sentence connectoron the contrary: it's not cold. Rather, it's very hot indeed. sentence substitutean expression of strong affirmation, often in answer to a question: Is it worth seeing? Rather!. [Old English hrathor comparative of hræth ready, quick; related to Old Norse hrathr]Usage: Both would and had are used with rather in sentences such as I would rather (or had rather) go to the film than to the play. Had rather is less common and is now widely regarded as slightly old-fashionedrath•er (ˈræð ər, ˈrɑ ðər)
adv. 1. to some extent: rather good. 2. in some degree: I rather expect you'll regret it. 3. more properly or justly: The contrary is rather to be supposed. 4. sooner: to die rather than yield. 5. more truly: He is a painter or, rather, a watercolorist. 6. on the contrary: It's not generosity, rather self-interest. Idioms: had or would rather, to prefer that or to: I had much rather we not stay. [before 900; Middle English; Old English hrathor, comp. of hræth quick, rathe] rather1. used as adverb of degreeRather means 'to a small extent'. It's a rather sad story.You can use rather in front of like when you are using like as a preposition. This animal looks and behaves rather like a squirrel.She imagined a life rather like that of the Kennedys.Rather in this sense is mainly used in writing. In conversation you would normally use a bit. I'm a bit confusedIt tastes a bit like a tomato.Several words and expressions can be used to say that something is the case to a smaller or greater extent. Rather is also used to soften the effect of the word or expression that follows it. For example, if someone asks you to do something, you might say 'I'm rather busy'. You mean that you are busy, but rather makes your reply seem more polite. I'm rather puzzled by this question.He did it rather badly.Rather is more common in British than American English in the above senses. 2. 'would rather'If you say that you would rather do something, you mean that you would prefer to do it. In speech, would rather is usually contracted to 'd rather. If you write down what someone says, you usually write 'd rather. I'll order tea. Or perhaps you'd rather have coffee.'What was all that about?' 'I'm sorry, I'd rather not say.'In sentences like these you use an infinitive without to after would rather. You can also use would rather followed by a clause to say that you would prefer something to happen or be done. In the clause you use the past simple. Would you rather she came to see me?'May I go on?' 'I'd rather you didn't.'3. 'rather than'Rather than is used to link words or expressions of the same type. You use rather than when you have said what is true and you want to compare it with what is not true. I have used familiar English names rather than scientific Latin ones.It made him frightened rather than angry.4. correcting a mistakeYou can also use rather when you are correcting a mistake you have made, or when you think of a better word than the one you have just used. There'd been a message, or rather a series of messages, on Dalziel's answering machine.He explained what the Crux is, or rather, what it was.Thesaurus| Adv. | 1. | rather - on the contrary; "rather than disappoint the children, he did two quick tricks before he left"; "he didn't call; rather (or instead), he wrote her a letter"; "used English terms instead of Latin ones"instead | | 2. | rather - to some (great or small) extent; "it was rather cold"; "the party was rather nice"; "the knife is rather dull"; "I rather regret that I cannot attend"; "He's rather good at playing the cello"; "he is kind of shy"kind of, kinda, sort of | | 3. | rather - more readily or willingly; "clean it well, preferably with warm water"; "I'd rather be in Philadelphia"; "I'd sooner die than give up"preferably, sooner | | 4. | rather - to a degree (not used with a negative); "quite tasty"; "quite soon"; "quite ill"; "quite rich"quite |
ratherconjunction1. instead of, as opposed to She made students think for themselves, rather than telling them what to think.adverb1. preferably, sooner, instead, more readily, more willingly I'd rather stay at home than fight against the holiday crowds.2. to some extent, quite, sort of (informal), kind of (informal), a little, a bit, pretty (informal), fairly, relatively, somewhat, slightly, moderately, to some degree I'm afraid it's rather a long story.3. more exactly, to be precise, more precisely, to be exact, strictly speaking He explained what the Crux is, or rather, what it was.ratheradverbTo some extent:fairly, pretty.Idiom: more or less.Translationsrather (ˈraːθə) adverb1. to a certain extent; slightly; a little. He's rather nice; That's a rather silly question / rather a silly question; I've eaten rather more than I should have. 相當，稍微 相当，有点儿 2. more willingly; preferably. I'd rather do it now than later; Can we do it now rather than tomorrow?; I'd rather not do it at all; I would/had rather you didn't do that; Wouldn't you rather have this one?; I'd resign rather than do that. 寧可 宁可3. more exactly; more correctly. He agreed, or rather he didn't disagree; One could say he was foolish rather than wicked. 更確切地說 更确切地，更正确地 - I'd rather ... (US)
I prefer to ... (UK) → 我想要... - I'd rather have an earlier flight (US)
I would prefer an earlier flight (UK) → 我想乘坐早一点的航班
rather
rather you than meset phrase I'm glad that I don't have to experience what you just mentioned having to do or go through. A: "My boss is making me come in this weekend to do an inventory of the entire store. It's going to take forever!" B: "Wow, rather you than me. I'm going to a baseball game this weekend!"See also: ratherbe a bit steep1. To be more expensive than was expected or is reasonable. Thirty bucks for two movie tickets and popcorn? That's a bit steep, don't you think?2. To be unfair, untrue, or unreasonable. I just think it's a bit steep for her to call me lazy, when she knows I've got a medical condition keeping me from working.See also: bit, steepbe rather steep1. To be more expensive than was expected or is reasonable. Thirty bucks for two movie tickets and popcorn? That's rather steep, don't you think?2. To be unfair, untrue, or unreasonable. I just think it's rather steep for her to call me lazy, when she knows I've got a medical condition keeping me from working!See also: rather, steeprather thanInstead of; as opposed to; as an alternative to. Sometimes the preferred action is written between "rather" and "than." Rather than spending so much of our budget on advertising, I think we should invest a bit more in QA testing. When I go to the movies, I usually prefer candy rather than popcorn, but I'm in the mood for something salty tonight. He'd rather struggle and fail on his own than ask for help.See also: ratherrather (someone) than meset phrase I'm glad that I don't have to experience what someone else has to do or go through. A: "My boss is making me come in this weekend to do an inventory of the entire store. It's going to take forever!" B: "Wow, rather you than me. I'm going to a baseball game this weekend!" My sister Janet has to work every day over the Christmas break—rather her than me.See also: rathersooner rather than laterAs soon or quickly as possible; closer to now than a later time or date. I'd rather we have the meeting sooner rather than later so we can finalize the project details. Can we fill out that application tonight? I'd like to get it done sooner rather than later.See also: later, rather, soonerwould ratherWould prefer (to do something); would be more inclined or willing (to do something). I would rather go see a movie, to be honest, but we can go dancing if you like. She said she would rather not talk to you right now.See also: ratherhad ratherWould prefer (to do something); would be more inclined or willing (to do something). I had rather not talk to you right now. I had rather go see a movie, to be honest, but we can go dancing if you like.See also: ratherhave (one's) rathersTo have one's choice or preference; to have things the way one would like them to be; to have one's way. Usually formulated as "if I had my rathers." Similar to the more common phrase "have one's druthers." I tell you, if I had my rathers, I'd spend the rest of my life living in Paris. If the president had his rathers, we'd be paying taxes for the privilege of breathing!See also: have, ratherI'd rather face a firing squad than (do something)I really do not want to (do something). A firing squad is a group of people assigned to execute someone by gunfire. The phrase hyperbolically implies that the speaker would rather face a gruesome death than do what is being discussed. I'd rather face a firing squad than do another presentation for the board. Last time, they found an error in my report and screamed at me for it.See also: face, firing, rather, squadhad rather do something and had sooner do somethingprefer to do something. (The had is usually expressed as the contraction, 'd.) I'd rather go to town than sit here all evening. They'd rather not.See also: ratherhave one's rathers and have one's druthers (More informal with druthers.)to have what one prefers; to have one's way. If I had my rathers, we'd go out every Friday night. I suspect that if Joe had his druthers, he'd be taking Mary to the dance instead of Jill.See also: have, ratherI'd rather face a firing squad than do somethingFig. I would prefer to stand and be executed by gunfire than to do something. I'd rather face a firing squad than go shopping the day after Christmas.See also: face, firing, rather, squadwould ratherwould more willingly; would more readily. I would rather have an apple than a pear. I don't like pears. I'd rather live in the north than the south, because I like snow.See also: ratherhad ratherAlso, had sooner. Would prefer. For example, I had rather you let me do the driving, or He'd sooner switch than fight. This idiom today is often replaced by would rather. [Late 1500s] Also see just as soon. See also: ratherwould ratherPrefer to, as in We would rather eat dinner before the movie. [Mid-1500s] See also: ratherrather than instead of somebody/something: I think I’ll have a cold drink rather than coffee. ♢ Why didn’t you ask for help, rather than trying to do it on your own?See also: ratherrather you, etc. than ˈme (also sooner you, etc. than ˈme) (especially British English) used for saying that you are pleased that you do not have to do a difficult or unpleasant thing: ‘She works every weekend.’ ‘Rather her than me.’See also: ratherwould rather... (than) would prefer to: She’d rather die than give a speech. ♢ ‘Do you want to come with us?’ ‘No, I’d rather not.’ ♢ Would you rather walk or go by car? ♢ ‘Do you mind if I smoke?’ ‘I’d rather you didn’t.’ˌsooner rather than ˈlater after a short time rather than after a long time: We urged them to sort out the problem sooner rather than later.See also: later, rather, soonerbe a bit/rather ˈsteep (informal) (of a price or a request) be too much; be unreasonable: €6? That seems a bit steep for a small piece of cheese. ♢ It’s a bit steep to expect us to work longer hours for no extra money.See also: bit, rather, steeprather
Synonyms for ratherconj instead ofSynonymsadv preferablySynonyms- preferably
- sooner
- instead
- more readily
- more willingly
adv to some extentSynonyms- to some extent
- quite
- sort of
- kind of
- a little
- a bit
- pretty
- fairly
- relatively
- somewhat
- slightly
- moderately
- to some degree
adv more exactlySynonyms- more exactly
- to be precise
- more precisely
- to be exact
- strictly speaking
Synonyms for ratheradv to some extentSynonymsSynonyms for ratheradv on the contrarySynonymsadv to some (great or small) extentSynonymsadv more readily or willinglySynonymsadv to a degree (not used with a negative)Synonyms |