preferable
Americanadjective
Usage
Since preferable already means more desirable, one should not say something is more preferable or most preferable
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of preferable
From the French word préfsptérable, dating back to 1640–50. See prefer, -able
Explanation
When one thing seems like a better option than another, it is preferable. If you would rather have chocolate ice cream than vanilla, it means that chocolate is preferable to you. Graduating from high school is usually preferable to dropping out, and traveling a long distance by train is always preferable to getting there on roller skates. The hardest thing about preferable is pronunciation: remember to place the stress on the first syllable, pref, and not on the second syllable as in the word prefer.
Vocabulary lists containing preferable
Commonly Misspelled Words, List 3
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -able, -ible
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Novel Study: Anthem, Chapters 1–6
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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.
To women of a certain mood, though, it confirms what we already know: that a bear is preferable company to thoughtless, dangerous people.
From Salon ● Oct. 18, 2026
None of the patrons appear to be dedicated readers of Thrasher or Quartersnacks, which affords Elsesser a preferable anonymity.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026
For a weakened heart muscle, reducing strain is preferable to forcing it to work harder.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
Given the sophistication of contemporary TV coverage, “it’s almost preferable to stay home and watch your favorite games on the big screen hanging on your den wall,” he says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Copernicus also claimed that his system was preferable because it specified more tightly the characteristics of the system as a whole.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
