How to Use rather than in a Sentence

rather than

1 of 2 conjunction
Definition of rather thannext
  • The goal is to make a bathroom feel light and airy rather than cramped.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2023
  • There’s a bit of grain on the nose and the first sip, big corn notes that are developed rather than green and raw.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 10 Dec. 2023
  • They’re crushed, rather than cut, to express and preserve their oils.
    — Jaina Grey, WIRED, 25 Apr. 2024
  • Kate Holstein At first, the path seems easy: almost a Sunday stroll rather than a hike.
    — Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 10 July 2023
  • The pop-out roof panel is now attached with three hand levers rather than four bolts and a ratchet wrench.
    — Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, 7 Sep. 2023
  • Now match the second set of cuts: Start at the bottom sides and cut down—at an angle again rather than straight down—to make bevels.
    — Hugh Garvey, Sunset Magazine, 7 Sep. 2023
  • To avoid this, think about pulling the weights toward your pockets, near the lower end of your ribs, rather than up high on your rib cage.
    — Jenny McCoy, SELF, 23 Oct. 2023
  • Some potential false electors backed out rather than join the scheme.
    — Amber Phillips, Anchorage Daily News, 21 July 2023
  • In the White House, Biden has harnessed his aides rather than becoming captive to them.
    — Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 19 Sep. 2023
  • But rather than make a roster move, the Cowboys informed Jones he would be released.
    — David Moore, Dallas News, 18 Sep. 2023
  • This year will mark the first that JCPS will operate on eight different start times, rather than just two.
    — Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 10 July 2023
  • The studio decided to add the extra width amidships rather than expand the side decks.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2023
  • But more often than not, their songs have a way of washing over the listener rather than banging them over the head with sound.
    — Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2023
  • He was known more as a speedy forward with a penchant to score goals, rather than a left-handed pitcher who could touch 90 mph.
    — Drew Davison -, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2024
  • That's because the team found only fragments of skulls, arms, and hips at the Moroccan site rather than full bodies of bones.
    — Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 3 Nov. 2023
  • And maybe by the start of the 2026 soccer season, Current fans will be able to ride — rather than drive —to see a match, watch the river flow and the downtown skyline light up.
    — Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2024
  • Democrats are now seeking permission from the court to draw their own districts rather than having to stick with the third-party map.
    — Caroline Curran, ABC News, 10 July 2023
  • And this learning should happen earlier in the process rather than later.
    — Lynn Altman, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
  • When adding the cinnamon sugar layer to the batter, sprinkle the mixture toward the center of batter rather than close to the edge of the pan.
    — Anna Theoktisto, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2023
  • Some workers said the incident had left them shaken, and some have chosen to look for other work rather than return to the farm.
    — Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2023
  • Dorn likens this parenting style to being a coach rather than a dictator.
    — Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 12 Apr. 2024
  • The drunken Aquaman falls face down into a puddle and decides to spend the night there rather than return to Barry’s apartment across the street.
    — Richard Newby, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2023
  • Now that Prince Harry is the son of the monarch rather than the son of the heir, a different coronet should be used while the five points of the lapel should be changed to three points, according to Gert's Royals.
    — Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 13 Feb. 2024
  • With her type of cancer, life expectancy is often measured in months rather than years.
    — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024
  • The shade our tester tried was perfect for her skin tone, mimicking the look of a shadow rather than leaning muddy or orange.
    — Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 25 Apr. 2024
  • Mushroom blonde is a cool-toned hair color that veers more into neutral and ashy colors, rather than warm and platinum blonde.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 25 Aug. 2023
  • What if data was used to shift power back to the people who need it the most, rather than strip-mining them of their personal data and using it against them?
    — Jim Fruchterman, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
  • But as the bloc tries to enforce its rules on the unruly owner of X, critics say Brussels is becoming more like Elon Musk, rather than the other way around.
    — Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 11 Oct. 2023
  • By this time, children are usually grown and out of the house, and older women may have built up the courage to strike out on their own, rather than stay in unhappy marriages.
    — Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 8 May 2024
  • The strikes focused on targets in the border areas of Rafah, rather than the main population areas, but could foreshadow what is to come.
    — Peter Baker, New York Times, 7 May 2024
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rather than

2 of 2 preposition
  • In other words, the timing of daily work, school or sleep routines is based on the clock, rather than on the sun’s rise and set.
    — Beth Ann Malow, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2023
  • The points were most effective when attached to a bow, rather than propelled by a spear thrower or tossed by hand.
    — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Feb. 2023
  • The two drive to a coffee shop listening to their favorite music and linger to sip their drinks rather than taking them to go.
    — Alina Dizik, WSJ, 6 Feb. 2023
  • The defendants opted for Judge Sam Ohta to render a verdict in the case rather than face a jury.
    — Noah Goldbergstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2023
  • When the fresh flowers begin to fade, do as the locals do and set the lei gently on your nightstand to enjoy the remaining fragrance, rather than carelessly tossing it in the trash.
    — Annie Daly, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2023
  • In other words, the lower self-esteem associated with a lower social status has caused some men to simply drop out rather than cope with the stress.
    — Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2023
  • In some cases the foundation ended up looking more orange or red on my skin throughout the day, rather than complementing my natural skin tone.
    — Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 23 Feb. 2023
  • Sometimes in relationships, people are used to reacting through their emotions rather than taking time to understand the context of their partner’s point of view.
    — Addison Aloian, Women's Health, 10 Feb. 2023
  • Since the pandemic, self-tapes have remained a common way for actors to audition for roles, rather than auditioning live in front of casting directors.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 6 Mar. 2023
  • Iran's hard-line government has alleged without offering evidence that the demonstrations are a foreign plot, rather than homegrown anger.
    — Jon Gambrell, ajc, 17 Feb. 2023
  • While the Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula may be characterized by its wilderness rather than its urban sprawl, cougars there face similar constraints.
    — Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 23 Feb. 2023
  • Employees tend to consider recognition authentic when done at a regular cadence rather than a one-off.
    — Paolo Confino, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2023
  • Seoul will establish a new foundation that will be funded by South Korean companies, rather than seeking direct payments from the Japanese firms that employed the workers.
    — Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2023
  • Even so, rather than taking place in different public locations around the city, as usual, the forum was convened in an underground theatre on the hilltop campus of Ukrainian Catholic University, a ten-minute drive from the city center.
    — Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2023
  • In other words, the timing of daily work, school or sleep routines is based on the clock, rather than on the sun’s rise and set.
    — Beth Ann Malow, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2023
  • The points were most effective when attached to a bow, rather than propelled by a spear thrower or tossed by hand.
    — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Feb. 2023
  • The two drive to a coffee shop listening to their favorite music and linger to sip their drinks rather than taking them to go.
    — Alina Dizik, WSJ, 6 Feb. 2023
  • The defendants opted for Judge Sam Ohta to render a verdict in the case rather than face a jury.
    — Noah Goldbergstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2023
  • When the fresh flowers begin to fade, do as the locals do and set the lei gently on your nightstand to enjoy the remaining fragrance, rather than carelessly tossing it in the trash.
    — Annie Daly, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2023
  • In other words, the lower self-esteem associated with a lower social status has caused some men to simply drop out rather than cope with the stress.
    — Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2023
  • In some cases the foundation ended up looking more orange or red on my skin throughout the day, rather than complementing my natural skin tone.
    — Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 23 Feb. 2023
  • Sometimes in relationships, people are used to reacting through their emotions rather than taking time to understand the context of their partner’s point of view.
    — Addison Aloian, Women's Health, 10 Feb. 2023
  • Since the pandemic, self-tapes have remained a common way for actors to audition for roles, rather than auditioning live in front of casting directors.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 6 Mar. 2023
  • Iran's hard-line government has alleged without offering evidence that the demonstrations are a foreign plot, rather than homegrown anger.
    — Jon Gambrell, ajc, 17 Feb. 2023
  • While the Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula may be characterized by its wilderness rather than its urban sprawl, cougars there face similar constraints.
    — Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 23 Feb. 2023
  • Employees tend to consider recognition authentic when done at a regular cadence rather than a one-off.
    — Paolo Confino, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2023
  • Seoul will establish a new foundation that will be funded by South Korean companies, rather than seeking direct payments from the Japanese firms that employed the workers.
    — Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2023
  • Even so, rather than taking place in different public locations around the city, as usual, the forum was convened in an underground theatre on the hilltop campus of Ukrainian Catholic University, a ten-minute drive from the city center.
    — Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rather than.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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