prefer
verb (used with object)
to set or hold before or above other persons or things in estimation; like better; choose rather than.
was preferring
-
past progressiveof prefer.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Woods said he was preferring to play alone.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 4, 2022
There was never any evidence that she was preferring one cub over the other.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 28, 2015
She turned toward the salottino, remotely wondering by what chance Estelle was preferring it to the favorite red and green sitting-room upstairs.
From Aurora the Magnificent by Gertrude Hall Brownell
What a valorous knight this one was, preferring death to shame and the vituperation of the other knights!
From The White Knight: Tirant Lo Blanc by Robert S. Rudder
And, upon Joseph's representing to him that he was preferring the younger, he replied to him with admirable resolution: "I know it well, my son; but Ephraim will increase more than Manasseh."
From Pascal's Pensées by Blaise Pascal
