rare

SayRAIR/ɹɛɚ/UK/ɹɛə(ɹ)/

Noun pluralrares

8 meanings of rare

1
adjective
Not common, not happening often, or hard to find.
Like finding a four-leaf clover in a wide field of grass.
Snow is rare in this part of the country.
She found a rare coin in her grandfather's box.
UsageSay it is rare to see snow here.
Similaruncommon, scarce, unusual, infrequent
Oppositecommon, frequent, plentiful, abundant
2
lightly cookedadjective
Cooked only briefly, so the inside of the meat stays red.
Like a campfire marshmallow that's only warm on the outside and still cool inside.
He likes his steak rare, still red in the middle.
The chef asked if I wanted my burger rare or well done.
UsageOrder your steak rare, medium or well done.
Similarunderdone
Oppositewell-done
Note
3
scarce itemnouncountable
An item that is hard to get because not many of it exist.
Like one special sticker that almost no one in your class can get.
He traded three common cards for a single rare.
Only a few players own that sword because it is a rare.
Similarrarity
Oppositecommon
Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1, 3–5

From Latin rārus, meaning "thin" or "not often," which came into English through Old French.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Rare derives from Latin rārus through Old French. en.wiktionary.org
Latin rārus meant thin or not often. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 2

From a dialect form of "rear," from Old English hrēr meaning "underdone" or "not fully cooked."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Rare in the cooking sense derives from a dialect form of rear. en.wiktionary.org
Rear derives ultimately from Old English hrēr. en.wiktionary.org
Old English hrēr meant underdone or not fully cooked. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 6

Maybe linked to rath, an old word for "early," and to rather, which once meant "sooner."