favor
- something done or granted out of goodwill, rather than from justice or for remuneration; a kind act: to ask a favor.
- friendly or well-disposed regard; goodwill: to win the favor of the king.
- the state of being approved or held in regard: to be in favor at court; styles that are now in favor.
- excessive kindness or unfair partiality; preferential treatment: to treat some people with favor and others with neglect.
- a gift bestowed as a token of goodwill, kind regard, love, etc., as formerly upon a knight by his lady.
- a ribbon, badge, etc., worn in evidence of goodwill or loyalty, as by an adherent of a political party.
- a small gift or decorative or festive item, as a noisemaker or paper hat, often distributed to guests at a party.
- Usually favors. sexual intimacy, especially as permitted by a woman.
- Archaic. a letter, especially a commercial one.
- to regard with favor: to favor an enterprise.
- to prefer; treat with partiality: The father favored his younger son.
- to show favor to; oblige: The king favored him with an audience.
- to be favorable to; facilitate: The wind favored their journey.
- to deal with, treat, or use gently: to favor a lame leg.
- to aid or support: He favored his party's cause with ample funds.
- to bear a physical resemblance to; resemble: to favor one's father's side of the family.
- find favor with, to gain the favor of; be liked by: The play found favor with the opening-night audience.
- in favor of,
- on the side of; in support of: to be in favor of reduced taxation.
- to the advantage of.
- (of a check, draft, etc.) payable to: Make out your checks in favor of the corporation.
- in one's favor, to one's credit or advantage: All the comments were in your favor.
- out of favor, no longer liked or approved; no longer popular or fashionable: He's out of favor with the president and may soon be fired.
Origin of favor
Synonyms for favor
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comAntonyms for favor
Related Words for favor
service, gift, backing, support, benefit, consideration, respect, assistance, aid, promote, facilitate, champion, advocate, appreciate, back, accept, encourage, choose, praise, endorseExamples from the Web for favor
Contemporary Examples of favor
Thirty-six percent were in favor and 38 percent were opposed.
Finally, he takes us behind the scenes into how Obama came out in favor of marriage equality that same year.
Were the smugglers doing you a favor making it nearly impossible to bring any hope?
The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left BehindBrin-Jonathan Butler
December 19, 2014
I'm pleased with my decision to avoid the routine script problems in favor of the spicy stuff.
Then he was returned to the same unit to face his debts; the drug dealer asked for this favor and got it.
Historical Examples of favor
Mr. Davis, may I ask the favor of a few minutes' conversation with you in private?
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
Here too experience has afforded us the most satisfactory proof in its favor.
We are all in favor of having it built as promptly as possible.
I favor as a practical policy the putting of first things first.
Besides, Mr. Morgan offered to resign his seat in the House of Commons in his favor.
The Grand Old ManRichard B. Cook
Word Origin and History for favor
c.1300, "attractiveness, charm," from Old French favor (13c., Modern French faveur) "favor, approval, partiality," from Latin favorem (nominative favor) "good will, inclination, partiality, support," coined by Cicero from stem of favere "to show kindness to," from PIE *ghow-e- "to honor, revere, worship." Meaning "act of kindness" is from late 14c. Meaning "thing given as a mark of favor" is from 1580s. Phrase in favor of recorded from 1560s.
"to regard with favor, indulge, treat with partiality," mid-14c., from Old French favorer, from favor (see favor (n.)). Related: Favored; favoring.
Idioms and Phrases with favor
favor
see curry favor; in favor of; in favor with; in one's favor; out of favor; return the compliment (favor).