Prefer Definition & Meaning

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    • Synonyms prefer American [pri-fur] / prɪˈfɜr /

    verb (used with object)

    preferred, preferring

    1. to set or hold before or above other persons or things in estimation; like better; choose rather than.

      to prefer beef to chicken.

      Synonyms: fancy, favor Antonyms: reject

    2. Law. to give priority, as to one creditor over another.

    3. to put forward or present (a statement, suit, charge, etc.) for consideration or sanction.

      Synonyms: tender, proffer, offer Antonyms: retract

    4. to put forward or advance, as in rank or office; promote.

      to be preferred for advancement.

    verb (used without object)

    1. to wish or feel inclined.

      For this stir-fry you can skip the cashews if you prefer.

    prefer British / prɪˈfɜː /

    verb

    1. (when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to like better or value more highly

      I prefer to stand

    2. law to give preference, esp to one creditor over others

    3. (esp of the police) to put (charges) before a court, judge, magistrate, etc, for consideration and judgment

    4. (tr; often passive) to advance in rank over another or others; promote

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

    Usage

    Normally, to is used after prefer and preferable, not than: I prefer Brahms to Tchaikovsky; a small income is preferable to no income at all . However, than or rather than should be used to link infinitives: I prefer to walk than/rather than to catch the train

    Related Words

    See choose.

    Other Word Forms

    • preferredly adverb
    • preferredness noun
    • preferrer noun
    • unpreferred adjective

    Etymology

    Origin of prefer

    First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English preferren, prefer(re), from Anglo-French, Old French preferer, from Latin praeferre “to bear before, set before, prefer,” equivalent to prae- pre- + ferre to bear 1

    Example Sentences

    Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

    The spa made house calls for some members but preferred that they come in for services, former employees said.

    From The Wall Street Journal

    Now, judging by Marina Zenovich’s unvarnished profile, a viewer would prefer to be almost anywhere else, short of an emergency room.

    From The Wall Street Journal

    Virtual staging services can also let a prospective buyer select the home-decorating style they prefer and then see the house they’re considering digitally transformed to match.

    From MarketWatch

    It’s only fair for people to know how the game is played, she figures, but some bosses prefer unwritten rules.

    From The Wall Street Journal

    Price fluctuations are paralysing the sales of some imported goods, with both sellers and buyers preferring to postpone transactions until the outlook becomes clearer, AFP correspondents reported.

    From Barron's

    Related Words

    • adopt
    • choose
    • go for
    • pick
    • promote
    • put
    • select
    • suggest
    • wish

    Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

    Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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