rather

Adverb

• to a degree (not used with a negative)
  • quite tasty
    
  • quite soon
    
  • quite ill
    
  • quite rich
    

• more readily or willingly
  • clean it well, preferably with warm water
    
  • I'd rather be in Philadelphia
    
  • I'd sooner die than give up
    

• 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
    

• on the contrary; rather (or instead), he wrote her a letter"
  • rather than disappoint the children, he did two quick tricks before he left
    
  • he didn't call
    
  • used English terms instead of Latin ones
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  quite , preferably , sooner , kind of , kinda , sort of , instead