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favor

[fey-ver]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR favor ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

verb (used with object)

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.

Idioms

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.

Also especially British, fa·vour.

Origin of favor

1250–1300; Middle English favo(u)r < Anglo-French, Old French < Latin favōr- (stem of favor) goodwill, equivalent to fav(ēre) to be favorably inclined + -ōr- -or¹

Related formsfa·vor·er, nouno·ver·fa·vor, verb (used with object)pre·fa·vor, noun, verb (used with object)un·fa·vor·ing, adjective

Synonyms for favor

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR favor ON THESAURUS.COM

2. Favor, goodwill imply a kindly regard or friendly disposition shown by an individual or group. Favor may be merely an attitude of mind: to look with favor on a proposal. Goodwill is more active and leads often to outward manifestations of friendly approval: By frequent applause the audience showed its goodwill toward the speaker. 5. present. 10. approve, countenance, sanction. 12. encourage, patronize. 15. help, assist.

Antonyms for favor

2. animosity, malice. 10. disapprove.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for favor

service, gift, backing, support, benefit, consideration, respect, assistance, aid, promote, facilitate, champion, advocate, appreciate, back, accept, encourage, choose, praise, endorse

Examples from the Web for favor

Contemporary Examples of favor

Thirty-six percent were in favor and 38 percent were opposed.
How the PC Police Threaten Free Speech
Nick Gillespie
January 9, 2015
Finally, he takes us behind the scenes into how Obama came out in favor of marriage equality that same year.
The Real Story Behind the Fight for Marriage Equality
E.J. Graff
December 30, 2014
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 Behind
Brin-Jonathan Butler
December 19, 2014
I'm pleased with my decision to avoid the routine script problems in favor of the spicy stuff.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days
David Freeman
December 13, 2014
Then he was returned to the same unit to face his debts; the drug dealer asked for this favor and got it.
A Million Ways to Die in Prison
Daniel Genis
December 8, 2014

Historical Examples of favor

Mr. Davis, may I ask the favor of a few minutes' conversation with you in private?
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
Here too experience has afforded us the most satisfactory proof in its favor.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
We are all in favor of having it built as promptly as possible.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
I favor as a practical policy the putting of first things first.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
Besides, Mr. Morgan offered to resign his seat in the House of Commons in his favor.
The Grand Old Man
Richard B. Cook

Word Origin and History for favor

n.

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.

v.

"to regard with favor, indulge, treat with partiality," mid-14c., from Old French favorer, from favor (see favor (n.)). Related: Favored; favoring.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

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).

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