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.

    She pointed out that the latest data indicates that the personal consumption expenditures price index, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, rose 2.9% year over year in December.

    From Barron's

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    He likes rehearsing, although he prefers not to fully commit to something until he’s in front of the camera.

    From Los Angeles Times

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    If you prefer to work with experts who don’t also sell the cure, hire a consulting arborist to do a full evaluation and provide a list of action items.

    From The Wall Street Journal

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    Except for meals, when I had no choice but to come to the dining room and eat at my assigned table with my assigned tablemates, I preferred to stay in my room.

    From Literature

    He preferred to spend his precious free time playing football with his friends.

    From Literature

    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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