1
as in to like
to show partiality toward
I generally prefer chocolate ice cream over vanilla
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to choose
to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities
most buyers of that vehicle have preferred the model with four-wheel drive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prefer
The local Community Board has organized against the plan, preferring to wait for the State of New York to spend $2 billion for a deck on the rail yards, even if this is a fantasy that the rest of the state will never indulge.
—
Mitchell Moss, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2025
But Cummings prefers to mail the slender tubes back to Crown Bees, which will care for them over the winter.
—Martha Ann Overland, NPR, 6 Apr. 2025
Mint Tiny House Company Staying on the ground floor, the Violet Edition – Scarlett Loft's bathroom is adjacent to the kitchen and has a shower, a vanity sink, and a flushing toilet that can be upgraded for a composting model if preferred.
—Adam Williams, New Atlas, 5 Apr. 2025
Walmart’s Great Value groceries are obviously designed to save you money at the checkout counter, but our editors actually prefer certain items from this line to pricier name brand products.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prefer
Mitchell Moss, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2025
But Cummings prefers to mail the slender tubes back to Crown Bees, which will care for them over the winter.
—Martha Ann Overland, NPR, 6 Apr. 2025
Mint Tiny House Company Staying on the ground floor, the Violet Edition – Scarlett Loft's bathroom is adjacent to the kitchen and has a shower, a vanity sink, and a flushing toilet that can be upgraded for a composting model if preferred.
—Adam Williams, New Atlas, 5 Apr. 2025
Walmart’s Great Value groceries are obviously designed to save you money at the checkout counter, but our editors actually prefer certain items from this line to pricier name brand products.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prefer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prefer
Verb
-
During her years on the show, she became known as a shade queen who liked to twirl (her signature move and catchphrase).—
Kate Aurthur,
Variety,
7 Apr. 2025
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But, as figures on the right often point out, the tradition of having the WHCA decide isn’t as long-standing as some like to believe.—
Haisten Willis,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Each year, more than a thousand women have attended in person, choosing to participate in several among 32 seminars, plus a breakfast speaker and a lunch keynote.—
Lynne Agress,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Apr. 2025
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When asked to reflect broadly on his career, Paul chose to look back in pride.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Some of our favorite celebrity couples popped out to enjoy their significant other, happily ushering in the new season.—
Dominique Fluker,
Essence,
28 Mar. 2025
-
For now, enjoy this trip around the majors for something each team has been missing.—
Tyler Kepner,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
For each ranking system, the team ranked No. 1 was selected as the national champion.—
Giovanni Malloy,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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Jonny Kim, who was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2017, arrived early Tuesday morning at the orbital laboratory with his two cosmonaut crewmates after launching just hours ago on a Soyuz capsule from Kazakhstan.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
An online poll on a major news website showed a whopping 82 percent in favor of direct talks with the U.S., with 7 percent favoring indirect talks and only 11 percent opposed to all talks.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
3 Apr. 2025
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For now, the Senate map in 2026 still favors Republicans, with retirements of Democrats in toss-up states like New Hampshire, Michigan, and Minnesota giving GOP strategists optimism about adding to their majorities.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Even when bottled on its own in the 1980s, it was often picked late and sold in a long, slender bottle similar to riesling’s suggested sweetness, Ogilvie Merwin Vintners co-owner and director of production David Ogilvie said.—
Benjy Egel,
Sacbee.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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Players such as Milwaukee Brewers draft pick Griffin Tobias graduated, but returnees include senior third baseman Ryder Fernandez (Purdue Northwest), senior outfielder Drew Kosteba (Purdue Northwest), sophomore shortstop Parker Robinson and senior pitcher Josh Flores (Kentucky).—
Michael Osipoff,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The shoes stirred something deeper — a tangle of racial and social complexities that came with simply wanting to buy, own, or even wear them.—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
1 Apr. 2025
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This is the scent for someone who wants to make a statement with a fragrance that feels both familiar and surprising.—
Danielle James,
Vogue,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prefer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefer. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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