Meanings (ES + gloss)
más bien • preferiblemente
Used to specify a choice or preference; preferably, in preference to. (Now usually followed by than)
I would like this one rather than the other one.
I'd rather not have spent all the money, but it really was an emergency.
al contrario • más bien
Used to introduce a contradiction; on the contrary.
It wasn't supposed to be popular; rather, it was supposed to get the job done.
She didn't go along, but rather went home instead.
más bien
Introducing a qualification or clarification; more precisely. (Now usually preceded by or.)
1898, J. A. Hamilton, "Stanley, Edward George Geoffrey Smith", in Sidney Lee (Ed.), Dictionary of National Biography, Volume LIV: Stanhope–Stovin, The MacMillan Company, page 60, H…
What the pupil already knew was indeed rather taken for granted than expressed, but it performed the useful function of transcending all textbooks, and supplanting all studies.
algo • bastante
Somewhat, quite; to an unexpected degree.
It's been rather/quite a good meal overall, but this melon is rather too tasteless.
We had some rather worse news today.
Word forms