had been preferring

• past perfect progressive

  past perfect progressive

  Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.

  of prefer.
  prefer

  verb (used with object)

  to set or hold before or above other persons or things in estimation; like better; choose rather than.

Related Words

• adopt
• choose
• go for
• pick
• promote
• put
• select
• suggest
• wish