# rather

> English word · Adverb · IPA /ˈɹɑː.ðə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #478

## Definitions
1. Used to specify a choice or preference; preferably, in preference to. (Now usually followed by than)
2. Used to introduce a contradiction; on the contrary.
3. Introducing a qualification or clarification; more precisely. (Now usually preceded by or.)
4. Somewhat, quite; to an unexpected degree.
5. More quickly.

## Etymology
From Middle English rather, from Old English hraþor, comparative of hraþe (“soon, early, fast”). More at rathe. Cognate with Dutch radder (“faster”), comparative of Dutch rad (“fast; quick”), German Low German radd, ratt (“rashly; quickly; hastily”), German gerade (“even; straight; direct”). By surface analysis, rathe + -er.

## Easily confused with
- **razer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rather-vs-razer)
- **richer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rather-vs-richer)
- **ritter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rather-vs-ritter)
- **rusher** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rather-vs-rusher)
- **rutter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rather-vs-rutter)
- **rate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rate-vs-rather)
- **rath** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rath-vs-rather)
- **rates** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rates-vs-rather)
- **rated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rated-vs-rather)
- **racer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/racer-vs-rather)
- **rarer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rarer-vs-rather)
- **Rachel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rachel-vs-rather)
- **rapper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rapper-vs-rather)
- **ranger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ranger-vs-rather)
- **raider** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/raider-vs-rather)
- **raiser** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/raiser-vs-rather)
- **Rainer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rainer-vs-rather)
- **raster** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/raster-vs-rather)
- **rapier** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rapier-vs-rather)
- **rafter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rafter-vs-rather)

## Common misspellings (9)
`arther`, `rahter`, `ratehr`, `ratherr`, `rathher`, `rathre`, `ratther`, `rrather`, `rtaher`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/rather