preferable

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

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

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR preferable ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

more desirable.

worthy to be preferred.

Nearby words

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

Origin of preferable

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

Related forms

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

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

Examples from the Web for preferable

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
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
Which would have been preferable to Bob Beckel discussing his sex life when the subject turned to Miley Cyrus.
Megyn Kelly’s Prime-Time Debut Leaves No Doubt She’s Fox News’s Future|Lloyd Grove|October 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Avoid if possible; the phrase “[x] was caught lying and sheepishly acknowledged it” is preferable.
Exclusive! The Words That Journalists Overuse|Michael Moynihan|February 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Some good strains have a mixture of silky coat with the hard, and this is preferable to a woolly coat.
Sporting Dogs|Frank Townend Barton
We deliberate on or upon, also about or concerning a matter: the first two are preferable.
English Synonyms and Antonyms|James Champlin Fernald
They compare two modes of action, or two substances, and judge the one to be preferable to the other, and accordingly select it.
Nineteenth Century Questions|James Freeman Clarke
The news was well received, for anything was preferable to the prison life they were leading in Belfort.
The Downfall|Emile Zola
But "egotism, in the sense of 'self-worship,' is preferable to egoism, since egoism also designates a system of philosophy."
Practical Exercises in English|Huber Gray Buehler

British Dictionary definitions for preferable

preferable

/ (ˈprɛfərəbəl, ˈprɛfrəbəl) /

adjective

preferred or more desirable

Derived Forms

preferability or preferableness, noun

usage

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