favour

[ fey-ver ]

/ ˈfeɪ vər /

noun, verb (used with object) Chiefly British.

favor.

Nearby words

Usage note

See -or¹.

favor

[ fey-ver ]

/ ˈfeɪ vər /

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.

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

SYNONYMS FOR favor

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.

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for favour

Cameron's comments will only confirm that she was in favour of retaining the Union all along.
How the Queen ‘Purred’ With Pleasure at Scottish Referendum Result|Tom Sykes|September 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But he fell out of favour when it was revealed he had been on a big-game hunting safari.
King Felipe and Queen Letizia Kiss As They Formally Take Power In Spain|Tom Sykes|June 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This decision is about pretending Charles is impartial while he continues to lobby in favour of his own political agenda.
Prince Charles Black Spider Row Continues|Tom Sykes|October 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Now... about the arguments you briefly mentioned in favour of a new, State-owned crossing in Windsor-Detroit: 1.
In Defense of Private Bridges|Noah Kristula-Green|June 23, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Even with the deck seemingly stacked in the latter's favour.
In Defense of Private Bridges|Noah Kristula-Green|June 23, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The climate of Cannes has been the subject of a considerable variety of opinion,—the preponderance being, however, in its favour.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 2|Various
Then, O great king, Kapila was pleased with Ansuman, and that saint of a virtuous soul told him to ask for a favour from him.
Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 1|Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
So early as in 1609 the great Grotius had published his treatise of Mare Liberum in favour of the freedom of the seas.
Curiosities of Literature, Vol. II (of 3)|Isaac Disraeli
Once on this point, the connoisseur will pronounce in favour of the expressive Adagio.
The Violoncello and Its History|Wilhelm Joseph von Wasielewski
When aquaria first came into favour such things as snails and weeds were excluded as eyesores and injurious.
The Open Air|Richard Jefferies

British Dictionary definitions for favour

favour

US favor

/ (ˈfeɪvə) /

noun

an approving attitude; good will

an act performed out of good will, generosity, or mercy

prejudice and partiality; favouritism

a condition of being regarded with approval or good will (esp in the phrases in favour, out of favour)

archaic leave; permission

a token of love, goodwill, etc

a small gift or toy given to a guest at a party

history a badge or ribbon worn or given to indicate loyalty, often bestowed on a knight by a lady

obsolete, mainly British a communication, esp a business letter

archaic appearance

find favour with to be approved of by someone

in favour of

approving
to the benefit of
(of a cheque, etc) made out to
in order to show preference forI rejected him in favour of George

verb (tr)

to regard with especial kindness or approval

to treat with partiality or favouritism

to support; advocate

to perform a favour for; oblige

to help; facilitate

informal to resemblehe favours his father

to wear habituallyshe favours red

to treat gingerly or with tenderness; sparea footballer favouring an injured leg

Word Origin for favour

C14: from Latin, from favēre to protect

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for favour

favour

chiefly British English spelling of favor (q.v.); for spelling, see -or. Related: Favourite; favouritism.

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 favour

favor

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