preferably
Britishadverb
Explanation
The adverb preferably refers to the most desirable choice. You could say you were looking for a new car, preferably a hybrid. That means that a hybrid is the kind of car you would choose over any other kind. As preferably is the adverb form of the word "prefer," we can find its roots in the Latin praeferre, which means "to set before." When you use preferably you're saying you'd set that choice before all others, though you might accept something else. Musician David Byrne once said, "I wanted to be a secret agent and an astronaut, preferably at the same time."
Vocabulary lists containing preferably
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
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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.
Preferably, victory against North Macedonia on Tuesday will be the first of three wins over the next four months - and one of many big Cardiff nights to come.
From BBC • Nov. 17, 2025
Preferably gold, but silver or bronze would do — in singles, doubles or mixed.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 11, 2024
Preferably in an airplane and not a hot-air balloon, but at this point I don’t blame you for looking into alternate forms of transportation.
From New York Times • Jul. 18, 2023
Preferably ones that also involve an awful lot of butter.
From Salon • Dec. 30, 2022
Preferably close enough for viewing yet far enough for comfort.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
Definitions 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.
