favorable
Americanadjective
-
characterized by approval or support; positive.
a favorable report.
-
creating or winning favor; pleasing.
to make a favorable impression.
-
affording advantage, opportunity, or convenience; advantageous.
a favorable position.
-
(of an answer) granting what is desired.
-
boding well; propitious.
The signs are favorable for a new start.
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
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Content Summary G.3: Spatial Reorganization
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Charlotte's Web
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
The analysts raise their 2026 EPS forecast for the South Korean lender by 4.5% to reflect the favorable NIM environment.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026
A 2025 Pew Research Center poll found that 48% of Americans have a favorable view of the court, down from 70% five years earlier.
From Salon • Apr. 25, 2026
As of Friday morning, the critic’s consensus on Rotten Tomatoes was less than favorable, with a score of 40%.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026
A favorable contract with the players union that would impose some salary limits could narrow the gap between baseball’s haves and have-nots in the sport and make baseball more competitive.
From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026
The other story is much more favorable to Theseus.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
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.
