What part of speech is “rather”
Adverb
Definition:
rather is also an adverb that expresses further or more emphasis. As an adverb, it is used to emphasize the degree of something. It is often paired with words such as 'very,' 'quite,' or 'really.' For example
'She was rather exhausted from the long journey.' Here, 'rather' is used to emphasize that she was extremely exhausted.
Examples:
1. The professor was rather amused by his student's query.
2. The little girl was rather distraught after losing her toy.
3. He was rather taken aback by the news.
Tips:
when using 'rather' as an adverb, never precede it with an adverb, such as 'very,' as it may result in the misuse of the word. Also, always make sure it is used to add emphasis to a statement, and not to indicate a slight degree of something.