prefer

verb

pre·​fer pri-ˈfər 

preferred; preferring

transitive verb

1

: to promote or advance to a rank or position

2

: to like better or best

prefers sports to reading

prefers to watch TV

3

: to give (a creditor) priority

4

archaic : to put or set forward or before someone : recommend

5

: to bring or lay against someone

won't prefer charges

6

: to bring forward or lay before one for consideration

preferrer noun

Synonyms

• care (for)
• favor
• lean (toward or towards)
• like

Examples of prefer in a Sentence

Some people like vanilla ice cream, but I prefer chocolate.

She tends to prefer small college campuses.

I prefer this dictionary because of its helpful examples.

Which one is the preferred alternative?

What is the preferred pronunciation of her name?

Recent Examples on the Web

Rashford prefers to play on the left wing, which is where the captain Son, Werner and Odobert operate. —Jack Pitt-Brooke, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024

There's a nonzero chance Toronto would prefer to send Bichette to the National League, but getting him out of the division and to the opposite coastline should be enough. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024

In the past, the Chinese government had preferred financially sound developers over insolvent ones when deciding their eligibility to get government support. —Bloomberg, Fortune Asia, 26 Dec. 2024

While many of us love dressing warmly for the cool outside air, being able to access our seasonal clothing like sweaters and sweatshirts in an organized closet is an entirely different story that many of us, ahem, might not particularly prefer not to discuss. —Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 24 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English preferren, from Anglo-French preferrer, from Latin praeferre to put before, prefer, from prae- + ferre to carry — more at bear

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

prefer

verb

pre·​fer pri-ˈfər 

preferred; preferring

1

: to choose or like better than another

prefer dark clothes

2

: to present for action or consideration

prefer charges against a thief

Legal Definition

prefer

transitive verb

pre·​fer pri-ˈfər 

preferred; preferring

1

: to give (a creditor or debt) priority or preference

any preferred charges such as child support or alimony

—In re Smiley, 427 P.2d 179 (1967)

2

: to bring forward for determination

especially : to bring (a charge) against someone

the various means by which a grand jury might prefer charges

—State v. Byrd, 399 S.E.2d 267 (1990)