favorite
Americannoun
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a person or thing regarded with special favor or preference.
That song is an old favorite of mine.
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Sports. a competitor considered likely to win.
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a person or thing popular with the public.
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a person treated with special or undue favor by a king, official, etc..
favorites at the court.
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Digital Technology. bookmark.
adjective
Usage
Spelling tips for favorite The word favorite is hard to spell for two reasons. First, in British English it is spelled with a u (favourite), unlike the American English spelling favorite. Second, the final e is silent.How to spell favorite: When you do someone a favor, you don't do it for yourself. So, there is no u in favor. Now that we have the beginning of the word down, how do we remember the e in -ite? Well, it wouldn't be anything without an Ending (an e at the end). Put the two together and you get favorite.
Other Word Forms
- nonfavorite noun
- prefavorite noun
- unfavorite adjective
Etymology
Origin of favorite
First recorded in 1575–85; from Middle French, from Italian favorito, “favored,” past participle of favorire “to favor, support,” from favore “favor, goodwill”; favor, -ite 2
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.
Now their greatest challenge might be shutting out the distraction of being deemed a favorite to win the Super Bowl.
From Los Angeles Times
If you’re overseas and trying to stream your favorite Netflix show, you can use a U.S.-based server to make it appear as though you are still located in the United States.
From Salon
Most of these plays can be found at your local public library or favorite bookstore.
From Los Angeles Times
Many people have a favorite vacation spot they love to visit and think, “Wow, this is the kind of place I want to retire.”
From MarketWatch
We met at a restaurant called Joy in Highland Park, his neighborhood and my favorite part of Los Angeles.
From Los Angeles Times
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.
