English Reference

Word

rare

US/ˈɹɛɹ/

UK/ɹˈeə/

Definitions

01uncommon

B1 · Intermediate

adj. not happening often or not found in many places.

adj. occurring or found very infrequently; characterized by scarcity or uniqueness.

“It is very rare to see snow in this part of the country during October.”

“The museum recently acquired a rare first edition of the manuscript, one of only three known copies to have survived the fire.”

02cooking meat

B1 · Intermediate Cooking

adj. meat that has been cooked for a short time and is still red inside.

adj. referring to meat, particularly beef, cooked briefly so that the interior remains red and moist.

“I would like my steak rare, please, with a side of roasted vegetables.”

“The chef recommends serving this specific cut of Wagyu rare to preserve the delicate texture and fat distribution of the meat.”

Synonyms

underdone

Antonyms

03thin or low density

C1 · Advanced Science Technical

adj. used to describe air that is thin and has less oxygen, usually high up.

adj. having low density or being thin in consistency; most frequently applied to the atmosphere at high altitudes.

“The air is so rare at the top of the mountain that it is hard to breathe.”

“Climbers often require supplemental oxygen when ascending into the rare atmosphere of the 'death zone' above eight thousand metres.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

04excellent

C2 · Proficiency British English · Slang

adj. really good or enjoyable.

adj. denoting high quality or excellence; used as a positive intensifier in specific regional dialects.

“We had a rare time at the party last night.”

“The local supporters were in rare form after the match, celebrating their team's unexpected victory well into the night.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

05to be eager

B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal

v. to be very excited and ready to start doing something.

v. to be full of enthusiasm or eagerness to begin an activity; almost exclusively used in the present participle 'raring'.

“After a long holiday, the staff were raring to go on the new project.”

“Despite the early hour, the young athletes appeared raring to go, bouncing on their toes as they waited for the starting whistle.”

Usage

Almost always appears in the phrase 'raring to go'.

Synonyms

eagerdying to

Antonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “rare” in context.

Verb

01. become increasingly rare

“Traditional hand-made toys have become increasingly rare in modern shops.”

verb + adv + adj

02. order the steak rare

“He always orders his steak rare because he likes the meat very tender.”

verb + noun + adj

Adjective

03. rare opportunity

“Studying abroad was a rare opportunity that she couldn't miss.”

adj + noun

04. extremely rare

“It is extremely rare to see this species of bird in the city.”

adv + adj

Noun

05. rare breed of dog

“They own a very rare breed of dog that originally came from Hungary.”

adj + noun + of + noun

06. rare cases

07. rare glimpse

08. rare chance

09. rare earth

10. rare event

11. rare public

12. rare species

Word family

ADJECTIVE

rare(B1)

Idioms

Domains

CookingMedicine

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Common
Level
B1 · IntermediateOxford
Updated

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English Reference