RATHER as ADVERB

1. Meaning
   • to some (great or small) extent
   
   Synonym(s)
   • kinda (what does kinda mean?)
   • kind of (what does kind of mean?)
   • sort of (what does sort of mean?)
   
   Usage Example(s)
   • 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
2. Meaning
   • to a degree (not used with a negative)
   
   Synonym(s)
   • quite (what does quite mean?)
   
   Usage Example(s)
   • quite tasty
   • quite soon
   • quite ill
   • quite rich
3. Meaning
   • on the contrary
   • rather (or instead), he wrote her a letter”
   
   Synonym(s)
   • instead (what does instead mean?)
   
   Usage Example(s)
   • rather than disappoint the children, he did two quick tricks before he left
   • he didn”t call
   • used English terms instead of Latin ones
4. Meaning
   • more readily or willingly
   
   Synonym(s)
   • preferably (what does preferably mean?)
   • sooner (what does sooner mean?)
   
   Usage Example(s)
   • clean it well, preferably with warm water
   • I”d rather be in Philadelphia
   • I”d sooner die than give up