prefer

American  

[pri-fur] / prɪˈfɜr /

verb (used with object)

• prefers,
  present (3rd person singular)
• preferred,
  past participle,  past
• preferring
  present participle

1. 

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

   to prefer beef to chicken.

   Synonyms:

   fancy, favor

   Antonyms:

   reject

2. Law. to give priority, as to one creditor over another.

3. to put forward or present (a statement, suit, charge, etc.) for consideration or sanction.

   Synonyms:

   tender, proffer, offer

   Antonyms:

   retract

4. to put forward or advance, as in rank or office; promote.

   to be preferred for advancement.

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verb (used without object)

• prefers,
  present (3rd person singular)
• preferred,
  past participle,  past
• preferring
  present participle

1. to wish or feel inclined.

   For this stir-fry you can skip the cashews if you prefer.

prefer British  

/ prɪˈfɜː /

verb

1. (when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to like better or value more highly

   I prefer to stand

2. law to give preference, esp to one creditor over others

3. (esp of the police) to put (charges) before a court, judge, magistrate, etc, for consideration and judgment

4. (tr; often passive) to advance in rank over another or others; promote

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Usage

Normally, to is used after prefer and preferable, not than: I prefer Brahms to Tchaikovsky; a small income is preferable to no income at all . However, than or rather than should be used to link infinitives: I prefer to walk than/rather than to catch the train

Synonym Usage

See choose.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preferredness
  noun
• preferrer
  noun
• unpreferred
  adjective
• preferredly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• preferring
  present
• preferred
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• prefer
  simple
• prefers
  simple
• have preferred
  perfect
• has preferred
  perfect
• am preferring
  progressive
• are preferring
  progressive
• is preferring
  progressive
• have been preferring
  perfect progressive
• has been preferring
  perfect progressive

Past

• preferred
  simple
• had preferred
  perfect
• was preferring
  progressive
• were preferring
  progressive
• had been preferring
  perfect progressive

Future

• will prefer
  simple
• will have preferred
  perfect
• will be preferring
  progressive
• will have been preferring
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of prefer

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English preferren, prefer(re), from Anglo-French, Old French preferer, from Latin praeferre “to bear before, set before, prefer,” equivalent to prae- pre- + ferre to bear ¹

Explanation

Prefer means to like better. If your parents prefer your sister to you, chances are her allowance will be higher and you'll get blamed for things she's done. If someone offers you hamburgers and hot dogs, it's more polite to say, "I'd prefer a hot dog," than "Blech, hamburgers. Gag me!" Note that prefer means not just to like, but to like better––you're comparing two or more things. Whether it be chocolate ice cream over other flavors, or getting going first thing in the morning as opposed to lounging in your PJs, what you prefer is called your preference. And if you like them all the same, you can say you have no preference

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

prefer prefers preferred preferring

"To be honest, I prefer to win 1-0 than 5-3 but I expected a very difficult game," said Maresca.

From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026

Gulf Coast refineries prefer using to make gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

They are just true for the same reason — and it isn’t the one Disney would prefer people believe.

From Salon ● Sep. 15, 2026

Just like some people prefer aloof cats to Labrador retrievers, some people get exhausted by my extroversion and geeky enthusiasm.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026

“I thought you’d prefer a dividend of three.”

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

His cramped work space, about 90 feet from the field, has enough room for two green vinyl chairs, though Araujo prefers to stand when he’s working.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026

While Park, 49, believes Macklemore's ouster was unfair and a violation of free speech, she said she's mostly unbothered by the drama and prefers to separate the artist from the art.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

Within tech, Wells Fargo said it prefers software to microchips.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026

“I’m a joyful person,” Boyagoda said in an interview, though he prefers to see his outlook on academia as “hopeful” rather than optimistic.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

His bed was unmade the morning he left for work, but I’ve made it for him since then, making sure to tuck the comforter completely under the pillows, as he prefers it.

From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera

Their preferred rivers and creeks had gone dry from a record drought.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

Founded in 1819, Cravath built a prestigious reputation and preferred to build talent from “cradle to grave” with its own training method.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026

The lane draft: Athletes contesting the 200m will take part in a lane draft, selecting their preferred semi-final heat and lane in world rankings order.

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026

And, in a nod to MLB, LA28 organizers scheduled the baseball competition in a preferred window, starting before any competition in gymnastics, swimming and track and field.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

He preferred to spend his precious free time playing football with his friends.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

For most of this decade, Subaru’s leadership has limited spending on in-house electrification programs, preferring to rely on partners and suppliers—most conspicuously, Toyota, which owns a 20% interest in Subaru Corporation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026

Tim Garcia, who coached Raymond at Ventura High, said Raymond was never much of a talker on the field, preferring to lead by example, especially noting his strong intensity and commitment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2026

Mladić struggled to come to terms with her suicide, preferring wild conspiracy theories which blamed the tragedy on everyone but himself.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

Clients have drifted away from Song Oh-soon's fortune-telling village on the edge of Seoul, preferring online AI-powered divination to the centuries-old prophesying tradition still practised there.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

The boy had not moved, clearly preferring to stay with Jonathan.

From "The Fighting Ground" by Avi

Related Words

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