Meaning & use
rare
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Not found or seen often, so that few examples exist.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: a rare bird; it is rare to see snow here.
Patterns
- rare for someone to do something
- it is rare to do something
Snow is rare in this part of the country.
It is rare for him to miss a class.
She collects rare stamps.
adjectivebefore a noun
Unusually good, valuable or special.
Grammar: Used before a noun: a rare talent.
She has a rare talent for languages.
It was a rare treat to see the whole family together.
adjectivecomparable
Describing meat that is cooked for a short time and is still red inside.
Grammar: Used about steak or beef; it comes before medium.
He likes his steak rare.
A rare burger is risky to eat.
Word forms
| comparative | rarer |
|---|---|
| superlative | rarest |
Common combinations
- extremely rare
- The coin is extremely rare.
- a rare opportunity
- This is a rare opportunity to meet her.
- rare disease
- The child has a rare disease.
- rare occasions
- On rare occasions, it snows in May.
- cooked rare
- He ordered the beef cooked rare.
Synonyms and how they differ
- scarce
- Suggests there is not enough of something, such as food or water.
- uncommon
- Milder; not as strongly unusual.
- unusual
- Means different from normal, not necessarily few in number.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: rare or rear?
rare vs rear
Rear means the back part or to raise a child; it sounds different.
Practice
It is ___ for a flight from this airport to leave on time.
Choose one answer.
After is, the adjective rare fits in the pattern it is rare for someone to do something. Rarely is an adverb and cannot follow is here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “rare”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.