What does prefer mean?
Definitions for prefer
prɪˈfɜrpre·fer
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word prefer.
Princeton's WordNet
preferverb
like better; value more highly
"Some people prefer camping to staying in hotels"; "We prefer sleeping outside"
choose, prefer, optverb
select as an alternative over another
"I always choose the fish over the meat courses in this restaurant"; "She opted for the job on the East coast"
prefer, favor, favourverb
promote over another
"he favors his second daughter"
preferverb
give preference to one creditor over another
Wiktionary
preferverb
To advance, promote (someone).
preferverb
To be in the habit of choosing something rather than something else; to favor; to like better.
I prefer tea to coffee.
preferverb
To present or submit (something) to an authority (now usually in "to prefer charges").
preferverb
To put forward for acceptance; to introduce, recommend (to).
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
To PREFERverb
Etymology: preferer, Fr. præfero, Lat.
With brotherly love, in honour prefer one another. Ro.
If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. Psalm cxxxvii. 6.
He that cometh after me, is preferred before me; for he was before me. Jo. i. 15.
It may worthily seem unto you a most shameful thing, to have prefered an infamous peace before a most just war. Richard Knolles.
O spirit, that dost prefer
Before all temples th’ upright heart. John Milton.Would he rather leave this frantick scene,
And trees and beasts prefer to courts and men. Matthew Prior.By the recommendation of the earl of Dunbar, he was prefer’d to the bishoprick of Coventry and Litchfield. Edward Hyde.
He spake, and to her hand prefer’d the bowl. Alexander Pope.
They flatly disavouch
To yield him more obedience or support;
And as t’ a perjur’d duke of Lancaster,
Their cartel of defiance they prefer. Daniel.I, when my soul began to faint,
My vows and prayers to thee prefer’d;
The lord my passionate complaint,
Even from his holy temple, heard. George Sandys.Prefer a bill against all kings and parliaments since the conquest; and if that won’t do, challenge the crown and the two houses. Jeremy Collier, on Duelling.
Take care,
Lest thou prefer so rash a pray’r;
Nor vainly hope the queen of love
Will e’er thy fav’rite’s charms improve. Matthew Prior.Every person within the church or commonwealth may prefer an accusation, that the delinquent may suffer condign punishment. John Ayliffe, Parergon.
Wikipedia
prefer
In psychology, economics and philosophy, preference is a technical term usually used in relation to choosing between alternatives. For example, someone prefers A over B if they would rather choose A than B. Preferences are central to decision theory because of this relation to behavior. Some methods such as Ordinal Priority Approach use preference relation for decision-making. As connative states, they are closely related to desires. The difference between the two is that desires are directed at one object while preferences concern a comparison between two alternatives, of which one is preferred to the other. In insolvency, the term is used to determine which outstanding obligation the insolvent party has to settle first.
ChatGPT
prefer
Prefer generally refers to liking or desiring something more than another. It is the process of establishing or indicating a choice or priority from a multitude of options based on personal values, tastes, or benefits.
Webster Dictionary
Preferverb
to carry or bring (something) forward, or before one; hence, to bring for consideration, acceptance, judgment, etc.; to offer; to present; to proffer; to address; -- said especially of a request, prayer, petition, claim, charge, etc
Preferverb
to go before, or be before, in estimation; to outrank; to surpass
Preferverb
to cause to go before; hence, to advance before others, as to an office or dignity; to raise; to exalt; to promote; as, to prefer an officer to the rank of general
Preferverb
to set above or before something else in estimation, favor, or liking; to regard or honor before another; to hold in greater favor; to choose rather; -- often followed by to, before, or above
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Prefer
prē-fėr′, v.t. to esteem above another: to regard or hold in higher estimation: to choose or select before others: to promote: to exalt: to offer or present, as a request: to bring forward for consideration: to place in advance:—pr.p. prefer′ring; pa.t. and pa.p. preferred′.—ns. Preferabil′ity, Pref′erableness.—adj. Pref′erable, worthy to be preferred or chosen: more desirable or excellent: of better quality.—adv. Pref′erably, by choice: in preference.—n. Pref′erence, the act of preferring: estimation above another: the state of being preferred: that which is preferred: choice.—adj. Preferential (pref-ėr-en′shal), having a preference.—adv. Preferen′tially.—ns. Prefer′ment, the act of preferring: the state of being preferred or advanced: advancement to a higher position: promotion: superior place, esp. in the church; Prefer′rer, one who prefers.—Preference shares, or stock, shares or stock on which the dividends must be paid before those on other kinds. [Fr. préférer—L. præferre—præ, before, ferre, to bear.]
British National Corpus
Spoken Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'prefer' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2908
Written Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'prefer' in Written Corpus Frequency: #1837
Verbs Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'prefer' in Verbs Frequency: #304
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of prefer in Chaldean Numerology is: 3
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of prefer in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5
Examples of prefer in a Sentence
Prefer loss to the wealth of dishonest gain; the former vexes you for a time; the latter will bring you lasting remorse.
If I get a job there it will be a better life, but the way I feel now, I prefer the other place.
There is going to be a percentage of customers who are not comfortable with the digital experience yet and would prefer a physical menu.
So what I said, while I would not prefer executive action, I always prefer legislative action, that responsibility lies directly in the chair of Speaker Boehner who has refused to defy the tea party and do what's right for this country.
I expect we'll see better cameras, more viewing choices, more players and managers mic'd up, more streaming opportunities, more social media access, fans will need to feel closer to the players, action and live experience, even as they might prefer to stay more isolated.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
References
Translations for prefer
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- فضلArabic
- аддаць перавагу, аддаваць перавагуBelarusian
- предпочитамBulgarian
- preferovat, dát přednost, upřednostňovatCzech
- foretrækkeDanish
- präferieren, bevorzugen, vorziehenGerman
- preferiEsperanto
- preferirSpanish
- eelistamaEstonian
- ترجیح دادنPersian
- pitää parempanaFinnish
- préférerFrench
- is fearr leIrish
- העדיףHebrew
- पसंद करते हैंHindi
- előnyben részesít, szívesebben tesz, jobban szeretHungarian
- նախընտրելArmenian
- lebih sukaIndonesian
- preferireItalian
- ~の方が好きですJapanese
- malo, addīcōLatin
- verkiezen, voorkeur gevenDutch
- wolećPolish
- preferirPortuguese
- preferaRomanian
- предпочитать, предпочестьRussian
- föredra, föredragaSwedish
- มากกว่า, ชอบThai
- کو ترجیح دیتے ہیںUrdu
- 比较喜欢Chinese
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"prefer." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/prefer>.
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