rare

1 of 2

adjective (1)

ˈrer How to pronounce rare (audio)
rarer; rarest
Synonyms of rarenext
1
: seldom occurring or found : uncommon
2
a
: marked by unusual quality, merit, or appeal : distinctive
b
: superlative or extreme of its kind
3
: marked by wide separation of component particles : thin
rare air
rareness noun

rare

2 of 2

adjective (2)

rarer; rarest
: cooked so that the inside is still red
rare roast beef

Synonyms

Adjective (1)

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for rare

choice, exquisite, elegant, rare, delicate, dainty mean having qualities that appeal to a cultivated taste.

choice stresses preeminence in quality or kind.

choice fabric

exquisite implies a perfection in workmanship or design that appeals only to very sensitive taste.

an exquisite gold bracelet

elegant applies to what is rich and luxurious but restrained by good taste.

a sumptuous but elegant dining room

rare suggests an uncommon excellence.

rare beauty

delicate implies exquisiteness, subtlety, and fragility.

delicate craftsmanship

dainty sometimes carries an additional suggestion of smallness and of appeal to the eye or palate.

dainty sandwiches

infrequent, uncommon, scarce, rare, sporadic mean not common or abundant.

infrequent implies occurrence at wide intervals in space or time.

infrequent family visits

uncommon suggests a frequency below normal expectation.

smallpox is now uncommon in many countries

scarce implies falling short of a standard or required abundance.

jobs were scarce during the Depression

rare suggests extreme scarcity or infrequency and often implies consequent high value.

rare first editions

sporadic implies occurrence in scattered instances or isolated outbursts.

sporadic cases of influenza

Examples of rare in a Sentence

Adjective (1) even among the prize-winning roses, this one is a rare beauty rare specialty wools, such as cashmere, prized for their fineness, lightness and exceptional warmth the French pronunciation of the family's name is rare, except in Louisiana "Such good manners are rare these days," remarked Mrs. Denby, as the young man let her go ahead of him in line
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Because of its class-leading functionality, polish, and usability, Photoshop earns a rare five-star rating and our Editors' Choice award. —PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024 An historic drought is fueling a rare November wildfire in the Northeast. —Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 11 Nov. 2024 This is the rare case that law enforcement wanted to go viral. —Aja Romano, Vox, 11 Nov. 2024 But maybe this is the rare win that Daniel needs to survive. —Jack King, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rare 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

Middle English, from Latin rarus

Adjective (2)

alteration of earlier rere, from Middle English, from Old English hrēre boiled lightly; akin to Old English hrēran to stir, Old High German hruoren

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Adjective (2)

1784, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rare was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing rare

Dictionary Entries Near rare

Rarámuri

rare

rare bird

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Rare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rare. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

rare

1 of 2 adjective
ˈra(ə)r How to pronounce rare (audio)
ˈre(ə)r
rarer; rarest
1
: not thick or dense : thin
the atmosphere is rare at high altitudes
2
: very fine : excellent, splendid
a rare June day
3
: very uncommon
rain is rare in the desert
a collection of rare books
rareness noun

rare

2 of 2 adjective
rarer; rarest
: cooked so that the inside is still red
rare roast beef
Etymology

Adjective

Middle English rare "thin," from Latin rarus "rare"

Adjective

Old English hrēre "boiled lightly"

More from Merriam-Webster on rare

Nglish: Translation of rare for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of rare for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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