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.

Examples from the Web for favoring

Contemporary Examples of favoring

Garrett is currently at only 48 percent and this is a year favoring Republicans nationwide.
Red Sweep? Maybe, but One Tea Party Incumbent Is in Trouble
Dean Obeidallah
October 17, 2014
Instead, we see a host of issues of concern, most favoring Democrats.
Biggest Midterm Issue? The Obamaphant in the Living Room
Dean Obeidallah
September 7, 2014
To have turned down the Russian initiative would have appeared like favoring war over peace.
The History and Logic of Military Ultimatums, From Suez to Crimea
Jacob Siegel
March 4, 2014
For instance, preventing Comcast from favoring streaming capabilities for NBC, which it owns, over CBS, Fox, and ABC.
Up To Speed: Here is Everything You Need to Know About The Recent Blow to Net Neutrality
William O’Connor
January 14, 2014
Repeatedly, de Blasio said Lhota was borrowing a page “from the Republican playbook” and favoring “trickle-down economics.”
New York City Mayoral Debate Features Strong Sparring but No Knockout
David Freedlander
October 16, 2013

Historical Examples of favoring

Favoring the man Huntly with one inquiring glance, he turned to the corporal.
The Law-Breakers
Ridgwell Cullum
It does not help for good feeling to take the "favoring" attitude.
How to Write Letters (Formerly The Book of Letters)
Mary Owens Crowther
A favoring spot was seized on by de Spain for the resting-place 347 he wanted.
Nan of Music Mountain
Frank H. Spearman
What would not you do had you the Emperor and Ferdinand favoring your attempts?
The Rise of the Hugenots, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Henry Martyn Baird
There was in the mind of the boy a thought that circumstances were favoring him.
Boy Scouts in the Philippines
G. Harvey Ralphson

Word Origin and History for favoring

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.

favor

"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 favoring

favor

see curry favor; in favor of; in favor with; in one's favor; out of favor; return the compliment (favor).

favor

noun

verb (used with object)

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Origin of favor

Synonyms for favor

Antonyms for favor

Examples from the Web for favoring

Contemporary Examples of favoring

Historical Examples of favoring

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