Rare: meaning, definitions and examples

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rare

[ reər ]

Adjective / Adverb

Oxford 3000

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

uncommon occurrence

Not occurring very often or not found in large numbers. Something that is not commonly seen or experienced.

Synonyms

infrequent, scarce, uncommon, unusual.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
rare	Used to describe something that happens very seldom or is not commonly found. Can also refer to meat that is barely cooked. Finding a blue lobster in the wild is extremely rare. He likes his steak cooked rare.
uncommon	Used to describe something not frequently encountered but not necessarily rare. Can imply that the event or object stands out in some way. It's uncommon to see snow in this region during winter. Finding someone with green eyes is relatively uncommon.
scarce	Used to describe something that is in short supply or difficult to find. Often has a negative connotation related to limited availability. Water became scarce during the drought. During the pandemic, masks were very scarce.
unusual	Used to describe something that is not typical or ordinary, often something surprising or remarkable. Her choice of clothing was quite unusual for the event. It's unusual for him to be late.
infrequent	Used to describe events or occurrences that do not happen often but happen regularly. His visits to the office were infrequent after he moved to a new city. Infrequent updates can sometimes cause more problems.

Examples of usage

It is a rare opportunity to see a comet in the night sky.
Finding a four-leaf clover is a rare occurrence.
She has a rare talent for playing the piano.

^{Context #2 | Adjective}

valuable or high quality

Of exceptionally high quality or worth. Something that is highly prized or sought after.

Synonyms

exceptional, precious, unique, valuable.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
rare	Used to describe something that is not commonly found or happens infrequently. It's rare to see such beautiful sunsets in this region. Finding a four-leaf clover is quite rare.
valuable	Used to describe something that has a high worth, often in a monetary sense. The diamond necklace is very valuable. His advice proved to be extremely valuable.
precious	Used to describe something that is very valuable or cherished, often emotionally. She kept her mother's ring as a precious memento. Time spent with family is precious.
unique	Used to describe something that is the only one of its kind or very unusual. Every person has a unique fingerprint. This antique vase is a unique piece of art.
exceptional	Used to describe something or someone that is unusually good or of very high quality. Her performance in the play was exceptional. He is an exceptional student, always scoring top marks.

Examples of usage

The painting is a rare masterpiece.
He possesses a rare collection of vintage cars.
Her rare skills make her a valuable asset to the team.

^{Context #3 | Adverb}

infrequently or seldom

Not very often; seldom. Happening or appearing less often than is usual or expected.

Synonyms

hardly ever, infrequently, scarcely, seldom.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
rare	Describing something that does not happen often and is considered unique or special. Finding a four-leaf clover is rare It's rare to see such a talented musician
infrequently	Describing something that happens occasionally but not regularly; more formal than 'hardly ever'. She travels infrequently due to her busy schedule Updates to the software are infrequently released
seldom	Formal or literary usage to describe something that happens rarely but without the negative connotations that 'scarcely' may carry. She seldom visits her hometown They seldom argue with each other
hardly ever	Informal usage when emphasizing that something almost never happens, but can still happen on rare occasions. He hardly ever goes to the gym They hardly ever eat out
scarcely	Used to indicate that something happens very rarely, often carrying a sense of insufficiency or inadequacy. The sun scarcely shines during winter He scarcely has any free time these days

Examples of usage

She rarely goes to the gym.
He visits his hometown only rarely.

Translations

Translations of the word "rare" in other languages:

🇵🇹 raro

🇮🇳 दुर्लभ

🇩🇪 selten

🇮🇩 langka

🇺🇦 рідкісний

🇵🇱 rzadki

🇯🇵 珍しい (mezurashii)

🇫🇷 rare

🇪🇸 raro

🇹🇷 nadir

🇰🇷 드문 (deumun)

🇸🇦 نادر

🇨🇿 vzácný

🇸🇰 vzácny

🇨🇳 稀有的 (xī yǒu de)

🇸🇮 redka

🇮🇸 sjaldgæfur

🇰🇿 сирек

🇬🇪 იშვიათი

🇦🇿 nadir

🇲🇽 raro

Etymology

The word 'rare' originated from the Latin word 'rarus', which means 'widely spaced' or 'thinly distributed'. Over time, it evolved to refer to something uncommon or of high value. The concept of rarity has always been associated with uniqueness and scarcity, making rare objects or events highly desirable.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,043, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.

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