had rather

Idioms

Also, had sooner. Would prefer. For example, I had rather you let me do the driving, or He'd sooner switch than fight. This idiom today is often replaced by would rather. [Late 1500s] Also see just as soon.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And this was one they had rather seen coming.

From BBC

He had rather been hoping the king would suggest just that.

From Literature

“I had rather hoped you’d fall for that one,” said the other Clara, who was clearly not Clara.

From Literature

Truth be told, he had rather enjoyed his brief moment of speaking on the professional stage.

From Literature

In the order, the court however said that despite Mr Goldstein's claims, the mum and the children had "rather inexplicably" been "found in an isolated cave".

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023