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
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
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
