Rather vs. Prefer — What's the Difference?

Rather may refer to:

Like (one thing or person) better than another or others; tend to choose

More readily; preferably

Submit (a charge or a piece of information) for consideration

More exactly; more accurately

Promote or advance (someone) to a prestigious position

To a certain extent; somewhat

To choose or be in the habit of choosing as more desirable or as having more value

On the contrary

To give priority or precedence to (a creditor).

(răthûr, rä-) Chiefly British Most certainly. Used as an emphatic affirmative reply.

To present (a charge) against a defendant before a court

(obsolete) More quickly.

To present (a case) to a court as ready for consideration

; preferably, in preference to. (Now usually followed by than)

(Archaic) To recommend for advancement or appointment; promote.

(conjunctive) Used to introduce a contradiction; on the contrary.

(transitive) To be in the habit of choosing something rather than something else; to favor; to like better.

(conjunctive) Introducing a qualification or clarification; more precisely. (Now usually preceded by or.)

To advance, promote (someone or something).

(degree) Somewhat, fairly.

(transitive) To present or submit (something) to an authority (now usually in "to prefer charges").

To prefer; to prefer to.

To put forward for acceptance; to introduce, recommend (to).

(obsolete) Prior; earlier; former.

To carry or bring (something) forward, or before one; hence, to bring for consideration, acceptance, judgment, etc.; to offer; to present; to proffer; to address; - said especially of a request, prayer, petition, claim, charge, etc.

An enthusiastic affirmation.

To go before, or be before, in estimation; to outrank; to surpass.

Prior; earlier; former.

To cause to go before; hence, to advance before others, as to an office or dignity; to raise; to exalt; to promote; as, to prefer an officer to the rank of general.

Earlier; sooner; before.

To set above or before something else in estimation, favor, or liking; to regard or honor before another; to hold in greater favor; to choose rather; - often followed by to, before, or above.

More readily or willingly; preferably.

Like better; value more highly;

On the other hand; to the contrary of what was said or suggested; instead.

Select as an alternative; choose instead; prefer as an alternative;

Of two alternatives conceived of, this by preference to, or as more likely than, the other; somewhat.

Promote over another;

More properly; more correctly speaking.

Give preference to one creditor over another

In some degree; somewhat; as, the day is rather warm; the house is rather damp.

On the contrary;

To some (great or small) extent;

More readily or willingly;

To a degree (not used with a negative);