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
But from the way Lehane talked about it, the company would rather find a way to deliver its products to people for free.
—
Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 21 July 2025
Unless pushed by absolute necessity, people would rather hold on than accept that loss.
—Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
That’s because the Fox Farm Brewery owners would rather guests talk to one another and focus on the quality of the beer.
—Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 17 July 2025
The outside deck, glassed in and covered for sun, also guarantees privacy for those who would rather tuck into the latest Michael Connelly novel than splash around the pool.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for would rather
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 21 July 2025
Unless pushed by absolute necessity, people would rather hold on than accept that loss.
—Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
That’s because the Fox Farm Brewery owners would rather guests talk to one another and focus on the quality of the beer.
—Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 17 July 2025
The outside deck, glassed in and covered for sun, also guarantees privacy for those who would rather tuck into the latest Michael Connelly novel than splash around the pool.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 13 July 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 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share