rather loud

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather loud" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is quite noisy or has a significant volume, often in a subjective manner. Example: "The music at the concert was rather loud, making it difficult to have a conversation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

In the past couple of days, that noise has gotten rather loud.

The Economist

(Questionable hygiene... can get rather loud on Friday evenings, two stars).

Independent

She described herself as "a rather loud and unformed social butterfly".

The New Yorker

I remark that the country music playing on the loudspeakers is rather loud.

The New York Times - Magazine

SOUND LEVEL: Rather loud when full, but conversation is still possible.

The New York Times - Food

The Mill Street Grill, 1 Mill Street, [phone], is a casual, very popular but rather loud restaurant.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

Last Sunday, after Portsmouth's final league game of the season at Goodison Park, the applause was rather louder and longer-lasting than normal, even given Pompey's vociferous and numerous travelling support.

Independent

From a journalistic point of view, I felt it was only fair both sides of the debate were given an equal playing field, despite one side being rather louder than the other.

The Guardian

The following week, Mason seemed poised and well mannered rather than loud and childish.

The New York Times - Magazine

Instead, the band would rather write loud, crashing pop and keep Menace Beach fun and not perfunctory.

The Guardian - Music

The pump adds a bit of weight, though, and it makes rather a loud noise.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing sound levels in a review (e.g., of a restaurant or venue), use "rather loud" to provide a nuanced assessment that's more informative than simply saying "loud".

Common error

While "rather loud" is acceptable, overuse can make writing sound less precise. In formal contexts, consider more specific descriptors of volume or intensity, such as "decibel level" or "sound pressure".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather loud" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to describe its sound level. It indicates that something produces a noise that is noticeable, but not excessively so. As Ludwig AI shows, this phrase is often used to describe environments or sounds that are somewhat disruptive.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Wiki

9%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rather loud" is a commonly used phrase to describe sounds that are noticeably noisy, but not excessively so. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently appears in news and media contexts. While acceptable in many situations, more precise language may be preferable in formal or scientific writing. When aiming to portray a sound experience, consider alternatives like "moderately loud" or "quite audible" to fine-tune the nuance. Remember that while "very loud" expresses a greater degree of noisiness, "rather loud" lands on the more moderate part of the spectrum.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat noisy

Replaces "loud" with "noisy", focusing on the disturbance caused by the sound. "Rather" is softened to "somewhat", indicating a slightly lower intensity.

fairly noisy

Similar to "somewhat noisy", replacing "loud" with "noisy" and using "fairly" to express a moderate degree of loudness.

quite audible

Shifts the focus to audibility rather than loudness, indicating that the sound is easily heard. "Quite" suggests a noticeable level.

pretty noisy

Uses "pretty" as an informal intensifier for "noisy", indicating a noticeable level of noise.

moderately loud

Replaces "rather" with "moderately" for a more neutral tone, indicating a medium level of loudness.

noticeably loud

Emphasizes that the loudness is easily noticed or perceived.

distinctly audible

Similar to "quite audible" but emphasizes the clarity and ease with which the sound can be heard.

somewhat deafening

Emphasizes the disturbing quality of the sound and "somewhat" softens the intensity of "deafening".

markedly loud

Using "markedly" indicates the degree of loudness is significant or easily noticeable.

appreciably loud

Indicates that the loudness is significant and can be easily perceived or measured.

FAQs

How can I use "rather loud" in a sentence?

You can use "rather loud" to describe a sound that is noticeably noisy, as in "The music at the party was "rather loud", making conversation difficult".

What's a more formal alternative to "rather loud"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "moderately loud" or "distinctly audible" instead of ""rather loud"".

Is "rather loud" the same as "very loud"?

While both describe a significant volume, ""rather loud"" suggests a slightly lower intensity than "very loud". "Very loud" indicates a higher degree of noisiness.

What can I say instead of "rather loud" to describe a person?

When describing a person, consider alternatives like "rather vocal" or "somewhat boisterous" instead of ""rather loud"", depending on the specific context.