rare

¹

[rair]

adjective

rarer, rarest 

1. coming or occurring far apart in time; unusual; uncommon: His visits are rare occasions.

   a rare disease;

   His visits are rare occasions.

   Synonyms: singular, extraordinary, exceptional
   Antonyms: common

2. thinly distributed over an area; few and widely separated.

   Lighthouses are rare on that part of the coast.

   Synonyms: infrequent, infrequent, sparse
   Antonyms: frequent

3. having the component parts not closely compacted together; not dense: lightheaded from the rare mountain air.

   rare gases;

   lightheaded from the rare mountain air.

4. unusually great.

   a rare display of courage.

5. unusually excellent; admirable; fine.

   She showed rare tact in inviting them.

   Synonyms: inimitable, incomparable, choice
   Antonyms: inferior

rare

²

[rair]

adjective

rarer, rarest 

1. (of meat) cooked just slightly.

   He likes his steak rare.

rare

³

[rair]

verb (used without object)

Older Use.

rared, raring 

1. rear.

rare

¹

/ rɛə /

adjective

1. not widely known; not frequently used or experienced; uncommon or unusual

   a rare word

2. occurring seldom

   a rare appearance

3. not widely distributed; not generally occurring

   a rare herb

4. (of a gas, esp the atmosphere at high altitudes) having a low density; thin; rarefied

5. uncommonly great; extreme

   kind to a rare degree

6. exhibiting uncommon excellence; superlatively good or fine

   rare skill

7. highly valued because of its uncommonness

   a rare prize

rare

²

/ rɛə /

adjective

1. (of meat, esp beef) very lightly cooked

Other Word Forms

• rareness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rare¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English rar(e), rer(e) “light, airy, loose,” from Latin rārus “loose, porous, wide apart, thin, infrequent”

Origin of rare²

First recorded in 1610–20; variant of earlier rear, Middle English rere, hrere, Old English hrēr “(of eggs) lightly boiled”

Word History and Origins

Origin of rare¹

C14: from Latin rārus sparse

Origin of rare²

Old English hrēr ; perhaps related to hreaw _raw

Example Sentences

The outrages of cancel culture and antisemitism have brought a rare gust of accountability to campus.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The U.S. government is investing in rare earth producers like MP Materials to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals.

Read more on Barron's

“We don’t know of other deposits in the region, and would be skeptical of an attractive return, absent further information,” Tanners says of the potential rare earth deposits.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Mike says to Megan, “I want you to want me,” in a rare moment of vulnerability for him.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

China's total domination of rare earths production could soon be challenged, a leading miner said Wednesday after the United States struck a breakthrough minerals deal with Australia.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• extraordinary 
• limited 
• occasional 
• scarce 
• singular 
• strange 
• subtle 
• uncommon 
• unique 
• unlikely 
• unthinkable 
• unusual