as in rather
by choice or preference I like football, but preferably watching from the stands rather than being down on the field

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Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of preferably The straight-leg jeans Classic straight-leg jeans (preferably in a mid-blue wash) will more than pull their weight in your capsule. Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 18 Oct. 2024 Onions Most types of onions (like yellow, white, and sweet) do best when stored at room temperature, preferably in your pantry out of direct sunlight and away from residual heat from your stovetop or oven. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2024 Disperse around your home: Using a couple layers of cheesecloth and (preferably dried) used coffee grounds, make coffee sachets to place in areas throughout the house that could use a delicate deodorizer. Darcy Lenz, Southern Living, 16 Oct. 2024 Her dream was always to work her way up to detective, preferably investigating murders. Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for preferably 

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Cite this Entry

“Preferably.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preferably. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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