preferable

[ pref-er-uh-buhl, pref-ruh- or, often, pri-fur- ]

/ ˈprɛf ər ə bəl, ˈprɛf rə- or, often, prɪˈfɜr- /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for preferable on Thesaurus.com

adjective

more desirable.

worthy to be preferred.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of preferable

From the French word préfsptérable, dating back to 1640–50. See prefer, -able

OTHER WORDS FROM preferable

pref·er·a·bil·i·ty, pref·er·a·ble·ness, nounpref·er·a·bly, adverbnon·pref·er·a·bil·i·ty, nounnon·pref·er·a·ble, adjective

non·pref·er·a·ble·ness, nounnon·pref·er·a·bly, adverbun·pref·er·a·ble, adjectiveun·pref·er·a·ble·ness, nounun·pref·er·a·bly, adverb

Words nearby preferable

prefect apostolic, prefectorial, prefecture, prefecture apostolic, prefer, preferable, preferably, preference, preference share, preference shares, preference stock

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use preferable in a sentence

Goodell and Daniel Snyder spoke and agreed it would be preferable for Wilkinson to report to the league instead of to the team, multiple people familiar with the situation said then.
Beth Wilkinson close to completing Washington Football Team investigation, Roger Goodell says|Mark Maske|February 5, 2021|Washington Post
These are usually preferable for those who will be using a mechanical keyboard primarily for typing.
Best mechanical keyboard: Game, code, type, and work smoother and faster|PopSci Commerce Team|February 4, 2021|Popular-Science
Radcliffe has said that shorter cross-country races might actually be preferable from a competition standpoint since such an arrangement would better accommodate both middle- and long-distance runners.
Should Men and Women Race the Same Distance?|Martin Fritz Huber|January 27, 2021|Outside Online
To a shopkeeper who thinks otherwise, she asks if, in asking you about your day, it is their hope to get a full-form response — or whether it would not be preferable to move on to the next customer and get on with the day.
Miss Manners: Bossy invitation offends guests|Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin, Jacobina Martin|January 20, 2021|Washington Post

This seems pretty sensible and preferable to going to war with an opponent you know nothing about.
Vaccines Are the Safest Medical Procedure We Have. Make Your Wager Wisely - Facts So Romantic|Stuart Firestein|December 29, 2020|Nautilus
Living with bats is far preferable to living without them, Plowright says.
Bats’ Link to Ebola Finally Solved|Carrie Arnold|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Surely it would be preferable to place Issy in foster care than attempt to kill her.
The Mommy Blogger Who Tried to Kill Her Autistic Daughter Talks to Dr. Phil|Elizabeth Picciuto|October 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He clearly felt that this was preferable to any more combat.
The Last American Soldier Executed for Desertion|Michael Daly|June 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is surely preferable to blood-letting in the guise of ideologically-guided nation-building.
America Doesn’t Need a Big Army Any More|Bill Sweetman|March 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There is a danger, Jones suggests, in assuming that the known world is preferable to any alternative.
American Dreams, 2003: The Known World by Edward P. Jones|Nathaniel Rich|November 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The specific gravity is most conveniently estimated by means of the urinometer—Squibb's is preferable (Fig. 14).
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
With nervous children the lobe of the ear is preferable, as it prevents their seeing what is being done.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
Her own wild imaginings made death seem preferable to the anguish of her belief that Frank had fallen.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
A crust of bread and clear air are far preferable to luxuries enveloped in clouds of smoke and heaps of filth.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
If a full-flavored cigar is desired, choose the dark colors, and the lighter if a mild cigar is preferable.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.

British Dictionary definitions for preferable

preferable

/ (ˈprɛfərəbəl, ˈprɛfrəbəl) /

adjective

preferred or more desirable

Derived forms of preferable

preferability or preferableness, noun

usage for preferable

Since preferable already means more desirable, one should not say something is more preferable or most preferable

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

preferable

Origin of preferable

OTHER WORDS FROM preferable

Words nearby preferable

Words related to preferable

How to use preferable in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for preferable

Derived forms of preferable

usage for preferable