favorable

American  

[fey-ver-uh-buhl, feyv-ruh-] / ˈfeɪ vər ə bəl, ˈfeɪv rə- /

adjective

1. characterized by approval or support; positive.

   a favorable report.

2. creating or winning favor; pleasing.

   to make a favorable impression.

3. affording advantage, opportunity, or convenience; advantageous.

   a favorable position.

4. (of an answer) granting what is desired.

5. boding well; propitious.

   The signs are favorable for a new start.

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Other Word Forms

• favorableness noun
• favorably adverb
• nonfavorable adjective
• nonfavorableness noun
• nonfavorably adverb
• overfavorable adjective
• overfavorableness noun
• overfavorably adverb
• prefavorable adjective
• prefavorably adverb
• quasi-favorable adjective
• quasi-favorably adverb

Etymology

Origin of favorable

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Middle French, from Latin favōrābilis; equivalent to favor + -able

Example Sentences

Long-term supply agreements are seen as favorable for memory producers, mitigating downcycle risk.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

If the opportunity to launch in the 2030s is missed, the next favorable window may not arrive until the mid-2040s.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

Birotte said he agreed with the defense attorneys that the failure to turn over discovery constituted a Brady violation, in which suppression of evidence favorable to the defense violates due process.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Carmakers reported mixed first-quarter US sales Wednesday pointing to a hit from winter storms, as the Middle East war clouds the industry's outlook compared with unusually favorable dynamics a year ago.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Then a drought year brought conditions especially favorable to the beetle and the mortality of elms went up 1000 per cent.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Related Words

• appropriate
• beneficial
• benign
• convenient
• encouraging
• fair
• helpful
• pleasant
• pleasing
• suitable
• useful