adverb#562 by frequency

eher

/ˈeːər/

rather; fairly, relatively, somewhat; expresses a weakened degree; sooner, more readily, preferably

Meanings

1
rather; fairly, relatively, somewhat; expresses a weakened degree
- Sie ist eher hübsch als schön.
  She is pretty rather than beautiful.
  Tatoeba · samueldora · CC BY 2.0 FR
- Ich würde da eher nicht schwimmen.
  I'd rather not swim.
  Tatoeba · mks · CC BY 2.0 FR
2
rather; sooner, more readily, preferably; expresses a preference
- Du hättest mich eher anrufen sollen.
  You should have called me sooner.
  Tatoeba · Pfirsichbaeumchen · CC BY 2.0 FR
- Ich hätte es ihr eher sagen sollen.
  I should've told her sooner.
  Tatoeba · Pfirsichbaeumchen · CC BY 2.0 FR
3
rather; more precisely speaking, in fact, more like; used to replace a word or phrase with another