would rather
idiom
—used to indicate what one wants or prefers to do, have, etc.
She would rather drive than take the train.
I would rather you didn't tell them.
"If you'd rather, we can go outside." "No, thanks—I'd rather not."
Which beach would you rather go to?
Examples of would rather in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Many sellers, in turn, would rather pull a listing from the market than meaningfully lower the price.
—
Ronda Kaysen, New York Times, 2 June 2025
However, if the offer is too low, it is usually rejected, because most would rather get nothing than feel unfairly treated.
—Matthew Phillips, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
If given the choice, Knapp would rather roll back the technology, rather than the ball itself.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 29 May 2025
Victoria would rather eat eggs Florentine than the vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free muffins on offer, and Tina refuses to eat altogether.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for would rather
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Ronda Kaysen, New York Times, 2 June 2025
However, if the offer is too low, it is usually rejected, because most would rather get nothing than feel unfairly treated.
—Matthew Phillips, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
If given the choice, Knapp would rather roll back the technology, rather than the ball itself.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 29 May 2025
Victoria would rather eat eggs Florentine than the vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free muffins on offer, and Tina refuses to eat altogether.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for would rather
Cite this Entry
“Would rather.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/would%20rather. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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