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
Awards prestige does not necessarily translate to box office dollars these days, as many people would rather sit at home and stream a movie—or, more likely, a TV show—from their couch.
—
Chris Dobstaff, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
The most recent Gallup Poll on the subject found 36 percent of respondents would rather have a boy compared with 28 percent who would rather have a girl.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
Diaz is hoping to eventually use a slide step, but the Mets would rather see the right-hander get his times to the plate down to 1.5 before implementing it.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2025
Trump would rather deal with fellow travelers in a Make Europe Great Again (MEGA) movement than centrist leaders now in office.
—Stephen Collinson, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025
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Chris Dobstaff, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
The most recent Gallup Poll on the subject found 36 percent of respondents would rather have a boy compared with 28 percent who would rather have a girl.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
Diaz is hoping to eventually use a slide step, but the Mets would rather see the right-hander get his times to the plate down to 1.5 before implementing it.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2025
Trump would rather deal with fellow travelers in a Make Europe Great Again (MEGA) movement than centrist leaders now in office.
—Stephen Collinson, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for would rather
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Cite this Entry
“Would rather.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/would%20rather. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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