rather patient

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather patient" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is more than just patient, suggesting a higher degree of patience than usual. Example: "Despite the long wait, she remained rather patient, understanding that good things take time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Our first call was to milk a rather patient cow, who made no complaint as we fumbled with her teats.

The Guardian - Travel

Rather, patient distributions across renal replacement modalities, hospitalization patterns, and healthcare wages were the most powerful predictors of spending.

American Journal of Kidney Diseases

Rather, patient QoL was found to act as a surrogate for otherwise undetected prognostic factors [ 1].

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

The reasonable current sedation end-point should not, therefore, be deep sedation, a certain BIS or entropy value, but rather patient comfort and safety.

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

On her blog recently, she updated readers on the state of her marriage to the rather patient-sounding Jon: "We try to be respectful of each other's space, and he routinely follows the No. 1 rule of the house: NO TALKING TO ME WHEN I'M WORKING.

The New York Times - Books

It is argued that with the large variation in populations it can become advantageous not to think about gender-specific or race-specific knee replacement designs, but rather patient-specific.

The Knee

Rather, patients' reactions vary widely according to fears of recurrence, health beliefs, personality, coping and available support.

International Journal of Surgery

Testicular tumors rarely present with acute pain; rather, patients may describe a vague discomfort or palpable abnormality.

Critical Ultrasound Journal

Rather, patients contribute to the advancement of medical and public health knowledge, and thus help improve the care they receive.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

First Minister Carwyn Jones has said he would rather patients be treated outside the Welsh NHS than wait.

BBC

The NICE guidance is not specifically about end-of-life care but rather patients living day-to-day with chronic pain.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather patient" to subtly emphasize a person's capacity for tolerance and understanding in situations that might test their composure. It suggests a noteworthy, but not necessarily extraordinary, level of patience.

Common error

Avoid using "rather patient" when describing situations that require exceptional or heroic levels of endurance. It's a moderate descriptor, so reserve it for contexts where the patience displayed is noticeable but not extraordinary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather patient" functions as an adjectival modifier, specifically an intensifier combined with an adjective. It modifies a noun (usually a person) by indicating a moderate degree of patience. Ludwig examples showcase its use in describing someone's general demeanor or reaction to specific situations.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rather patient" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a moderate degree of patience. According to Ludwig, it is most commonly found in News & Media and Science contexts. The phrase suggests a noticeable level of tolerance without being overly emphatic. While its use is correct, remember that other phrases, such as "quite patient" or "fairly patient", might be more appropriate depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Using "rather patient" accurately helps to avoid overstating the level of patience displayed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite patient

Indicates a similar level of patience, perhaps slightly less emphasis.

fairly patient

Suggests a slightly lower degree of patience compared to "rather patient".

somewhat patient

Implies a moderate level of patience, less intense than "rather".

relatively patient

Indicates patience in comparison to something else or someone else.

remarkably patient

Emphasizes an unusual or notable level of patience.

extremely patient

Highlights a very high degree of patience.

incredibly patient

Similar to extremely patient, suggesting a high level of patience that might be surprising.

demonstrates patience

Focuses on the act of showing patience, rather than the inherent trait.

displays forbearance

Implies a controlled, restrained patience, often in the face of provocation.

shows great composure

Highlights maintaining calmness and control, which can encompass patience.

FAQs

What does "rather patient" mean?

The phrase "rather patient" describes someone who is moderately patient, suggesting a noticeable but not extreme degree of patience. It indicates more patience than average but less than, say, "extremely patient".

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

You can use "rather patient" to describe someone handling a frustrating situation calmly, such as, "Despite the long delays, the customer remained "quite patient"." It's suitable when you want to acknowledge someone's tolerance without exaggeration.

What are some alternatives to "rather patient"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "fairly patient", "somewhat patient", or "quite patient". Each offers a slightly different nuance in describing the degree of patience.

Is it always appropriate to use "rather patient"?

While grammatically correct, "rather patient" might not be the best choice if you want to strongly emphasize someone's exceptional endurance or if the situation demands extraordinary patience. In those cases, stronger terms like "remarkably patient" or "incredibly patient" might be more suitable.