prefer — English Dictionary

Verb

1. To be in the habit of choosing something rather than something else; to favor; to like better.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Synonyms

   fainfavorforechoose

   Antonyms

   disprefer

   Examples

   I prefer tea to coffee.

   I'd prefer it if you didn't do it.

   More examples (6)

   I'd prefer to stay home rather than drive/driving in the blizzard.

   You that will be leſſe fearefull, then diſcreet, That loue the fundamentall part of State More then you doubt the change on’t: That preferre A Noble life, before a Long,[…]

   "My tastes," he said, still smiling, "incline me to the garishly sunlit side of this planet." And, to tease her and arouse her to combat: "I prefer a farandole to a nocturne; I'd rather have a painting than an etching; Mr. Whistler bores me with his monochromatic mud; I don't like dull colours, dull sounds, dull intellects;[…]."

   The February kid he should retain, also the full-grown goat; the goatling he should sell, also its kid, unless he prefers using it for the table. Thus he has not only a good supply of milk, but he has an early kid ready for next year, […]

   Similar, if milder, versions of the same are reported in some (but not all) studies of humans, ranging from the Wellesley effect, discussed in the introduction, to heterosexual women preferring the smell of high-testosterone men.

   You don’t attack politicians because you prefer them; you attack them because you’re scared of them.

2. To advance, promote (someone or something).

   Usage

   • Dated
   • Transitive

   Synonyms

   elevateraiseuplift

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   So ſhall you haue a ſhorter iourney to your deſires, by the meanes I ſhall then haue to preferre them. And the impediment moſt profitably remoued, without the which there were no expectation of our proſperitie.

   And the maiden pleaſed him, and ſhe obtained kindneſſe of him,[…], and hee preferred her and her maids, vnto the beſt place of the houſe of the women.

   Tiberius preferred many to honours in his time, because they were famous whoremasters and sturdy drinkers[…].

   More examples (1)

   For this Reaſon, I preſume, it was, that ſhe took ſo much Compaſſion upon me ; conſidering herſelf a Slave in a ſtrange Country, and on­ly preferr’d to my Maſter’s Bed by Courteſy.

3. To present or submit (something) to an authority (now usually in "to prefer charges").

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   […], let him go, And preſently preferre his ſuite to Cæſar.

   More examples (1)

   At length the Maroons, who were delighted to have him with them, became diſ­con­tent­ed with his abſence, and for ſeveral years, during the ſeſſions of the Houſe of Aſſembly, preferred repeated complaints againſt him.

4. To put forward for acceptance; to introduce, recommend (to).

   Usage

   • Obsolete
   • Transitive

   Examples

   one Master David Hume, who making some use of his purse, gave him Letters to his friends in Scotland to preferre him to King Iames.

   More examples (1)

   Such were the arguments which my will boldly preferred to my conscience, as coin which ought to be current; and which conscience, like a grumbling shopkeeper, was contented to accept,[…].

Verb

1. like better; value more highly

   Broader terms

   like

   Examples

   Some people prefer camping to staying in hotels

   We prefer sleeping outside

2. select as an alternative over another

   Synonyms

   chooseopt

   Broader terms

   choosetakeselectpick out

   Examples

   I always choose the fish over the meat courses in this restaurant

   She opted for the job on the East coast

3. promote over another

   Synonyms

   favorfavour

   Broader terms

   promoteupgradeadvancekick upstairsraiseelevate

   Examples

   he favors his second daughter

4. give preference to one creditor over another

   Broader terms

   pay