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

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Millions of people across the United States will collectively look up at the sky Monday to witness a rare total solar eclipse. —Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024 Partial eclipses, when some part of the sun remains visible, are the most common, making total eclipses a rare sight to behold. —USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024 Texas officials are expecting more than 1 million people to visit the state for a chance to experience a rare total solar eclipse in the state that will be visible from the Texas border town of Eagle Point to Texarkana. —Katie Bain, Billboard, 8 Apr. 2024 Perun, who neither drank nor smoked—and who had often spent his rare downtime in our apartment curling heavy dumbbells—was afflicted by a chronic cough that grew distressingly vicious as the operation progressed. —Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024 The island was about to experience the rare and overwhelming sight of a total solar eclipse. —Rebecca Boyle, TIME, 8 Apr. 2024 During a total solar eclipse, which is a rare celestial event, the moon passes between the sun and Earth. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2024 Carter showcased his rare skill for cross-promotion. —Abe Beame, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2024 Both died of mesothelioma, a rare lung cancer caused by asbestos that is disproportionately common in Libby. —Matthew Brown and Amy Beth Hanson, Quartz, 7 Apr. 2024

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

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 18 Apr. 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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