favorable
Americanadjective
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characterized by approval or support; positive.
a favorable report.
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creating or winning favor; pleasing.
to make a favorable impression.
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affording advantage, opportunity, or convenience; advantageous.
a favorable position.
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(of an answer) granting what is desired.
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boding well; propitious.
The signs are favorable for a new start.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of favorable
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Middle French, from Latin favōrābilis; equivalent to favor + -able
Explanation
The word favorable describes something positive or promising, such as a two-thumbs-up movie review or the perfect conditions for golf. When things are going well, or in your favor, they’re favorable. Favorable is an adjective that describes approval or good conditions for something. If you wrote a book, you’d want the reviews to be favorable. If the weather is favorable, it's sunny out and perfect for a picnic. If you wanted to go swimming, thunderstorms would be unfavorable: they would ruin your plans. Favorable situations make us smile.
Vocabulary lists containing favorable
"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 3
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Content Summary G.3: Spatial Reorganization
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Charlotte's Web
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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.
Some foods appeared to contribute more strongly to the favorable associations.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026
Rising interest rates pummeled bonds as stocks continued to chug along and favorable rule-making buoyed cryptocurrencies.
From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026
At the same time, improving growth in India, other emerging markets and Europe is driving a favorable shift in business mix toward more sustainable earnings streams, the U.S. bank says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
As September draws to a close, though, Andrew Tyler’s team identifies a more favorable setup, and now is going tactically bullish as they anticipate more stable bond markets and the oil price trending lower.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
The mail poured in, hearteningly favorable and moving.
From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin
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.
