rather outdated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather outdated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is no longer current or has fallen out of fashion. Example: "The technology in this device is rather outdated, making it less efficient compared to newer models."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Judge and jury Les mains sales That's enough loyalty Reprints Related items Derivatives and foreign exchange: Global swap shopOct 11th 2001Now, though, the French denunciation looks rather outdated.

The Economist

And he notices: That Caterina, la ragazza, uses the family computer, the big, rather outdated I.B.M. in the corner of the living room.

The New Yorker

Trinny Woodall has issued some rather outdated fashion advice for what to wear to the office Christmas party, including the stark warning that women shouldn't wear anything revealing for fear of damaging their career prospects.

Independent

If you like your comedy edgy and controversial then you won't find much to enjoy here, but even though the show may now appear rather outdated, their showmanship remains something to marvel at.

Independent

All of which strikes one as a rather outdated "suited, booted and shoulder-padded" portrayal of modern businesswomen which elsewhere in the tome Brady, an avowed feminist, argues against.

The Guardian - Books

One 2014 study shows that cycling in Johannesburg accounts for only 0.2% of all trips in the city, while a rather outdated study suggests that the modal split for bikes in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Harare also fails to reach above 3%.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

"Eight out of ten mothers [of 1,896 surveyed]... believed the ad reflected common experience, rather than outdated stereotypes".

The Guardian

Better to provide interesting, thought-provoking literature that will keep them awake, rather than outdated ideas and verbiage with which they will struggle and lose interest.

The Guardian - Books

We need more organizations and publications that focus on progressive masculinity rather than outdated and dangerous stereotypes about what constitutes "manliness".

Huffington Post

However, to enjoy that outcome, we will need new trade policies based on practical industrial policies rather than outdated, highly idealized, and discredited free trade orthodoxies.

Huffington Post

This chapter provides a rather superficial, outdated overview of the state of human biomonitoring.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather outdated" to politely suggest that something is not current or efficient, without being overly critical. This phrasing is suitable for professional and academic contexts where tact is important.

Common error

Avoid using "rather outdated" in casual conversation; it can sound overly formal or pretentious. Opt for simpler alternatives like "old" or "out of style" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather outdated" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that something is no longer current or fashionable. As Ludwig AI says, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It combines the adverb "rather" to qualify the adjective "outdated".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "rather outdated" is a grammatically sound and professionally applicable way to describe something that is no longer current or in vogue. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a proper English expression. Occurring in contexts like News & Media and Science, its usage conveys a nuanced indication of obsolescence without being overly critical. For more direct or casual contexts, alternatives such as "somewhat obsolete" or "a bit passé" may be more suitable. Remembering its purpose helps in maintaining tone balance in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat obsolete

Replaces "rather" with "somewhat", indicating a slightly lesser degree of obsolescence.

fairly antiquated

Substitutes "outdated" with "antiquated", implying an older and more old-fashioned quality, and uses "fairly" instead of "rather".

slightly outmoded

Replaces "rather outdated" with "slightly outmoded", suggesting something is no longer in style or fashion.

a bit passé

Uses the French term "passé", meaning out of date or no longer fashionable; more concise.

somewhat behind the times

Expresses the idea of being outdated in terms of current trends or knowledge.

a little old-fashioned

Indicates something is not modern, suggesting a slightly gentler tone than "outdated".

relatively stale

Indicates a lack of freshness, be it in the context of information, ideas or anything else that is not topical anymore.

mildly archaic

Replaces "outdated" with "archaic", implying a more historical or ancient quality, uses "mildly" instead of "rather".

marginally out-of-date

Uses "marginally out-of-date" to soften the impact of saying something is outdated; more literal.

slightly superannuated

Superannuated implies something is retired or too old for current use; more formal.

FAQs

What does "rather outdated" mean?

The phrase "rather outdated" means something is somewhat old-fashioned or no longer current. It suggests the subject is not up-to-date but uses "rather" to soften the statement.

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

You can use "rather outdated" to describe anything from technology to ideas. For example: "The company's marketing strategies are "rather outdated" and need a refresh."

What can I say instead of "rather outdated"?

You can use alternatives like "somewhat obsolete", "fairly antiquated", or "slightly outmoded" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "outdated" or "rather outdated"?

"Rather outdated" is a milder way of saying "outdated". Using "rather" softens the criticism and can be more appropriate in professional or polite conversations.