# rather than

idiom · CEFR B1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/rather-than
Updated: 2026-04-22

## Meaning

you use this to show that you prefer one thing over another, or to say what did not happen.

## Examples

- I prefer tea rather than coffee in the morning.
- We decided to walk to the park rather than take the bus because the weather was so beautiful.
- The committee chose to invest in long-term infrastructure projects rather than focusing on immediate, short-term gains that would not benefit the city in the future.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.