prefer

prefer Definition

pre·fer (prē fʉr′, pri-)

transitive verb -·ferred′, -·fer′·ring

to put before someone else in rank, office, etc.; promote; advance
to put before a magistrate, administrator, court, etc. for consideration, sanction, or redress to prefer charges against an attacker
to put before something or someone else in one's liking, opinion, etc.; like better
to give preference or priority to (a creditor, etc.)

Etymology: ME preferren < MFr preferer < L praeferre, to place before < prae-, pre- + ferre, bear

prefer Related Forms

pre·fer′·rer noun

prefer Synonyms

lean toward, like better, fancy; see favor 1.

prefer Usage Examples

Object

soil: They prefer well-drained soil, sun or semi shade.
latter: Faced with those two, I would far prefer the latter.
shade: Photo © Carl Farmer 6 Aug 2003 Dunvegan Very common on rocks, walls and trees, preferring shade.
something: If you prefer something at that end of things try some Dragon Well tea.
simplicity: Bengt Lundell comments: " We preferred the simplicity with which rules could be generated.
approach: We prefer a pro-active approach in dealing with employment law and HR problems that minimizes the cost and time spent.

Infinitive complement

stay: SCC Older people Older people prefer to stay in their own homes.
concentrate: He prefers to concentrate on plans for a 100,000 sq ft speculative block set to start in June.
rely: Thus far, no witnesses have attended the hearings, the parties having preferred to rely on witness statements instead.
speak: X: I prefer to speak with Agent Mulder directly.
stick: But you'll probably prefer to stick with sound effects -- nothing special, but the Esprit's throaty roar is very satisfactory.
receive: If you prefer to receive your mailings by email, please provide an email address.

Present participle complement

watch: I agree that films should be experienced on the big screen, but I prefer watching films from the comfort of my own home.
sit: If you prefer sitting on cushions on the floor to having a sofa, ditch the couch and start stuffing.

Modifying Another Word

instead: Thus, we instead prefer to let the system pick the address.
personally: Order Based These are the style of party that I personally prefer.
much: I much prefer Autumn, with the clocks going backward.
generally: We generally prefer to keep packages from the current " stable " Debian distribution.
definitely: Given the choice myself, I would definitely prefer to watch Dirty Harry.
actually: I actually prefer it to SMB, it's a lot cooler!

prefer Quotes

But she, good sir, Did not prefer You, for that I was ranging; But for that she Found faith in me And she loved to be changing.

—Drayton, Michael

It is not contrary to reason to prefer the destruction of the whole world to the scratching of my finger.

—Humboldt, Alexander, Baron von

Browse dictionary entries near prefer