Definitions for prefer
prɪˈfɜrpre·fer

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. prefer(verb)

   like better; value more highly

   "Some people prefer camping to staying in hotels"; "We prefer sleeping outside"

2. choose, prefer, opt(verb)

   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"

3. prefer, favor, favour(verb)

   promote over another

   "he favors his second daughter"

4. prefer(verb)

   give preference to one creditor over another

Wiktionary(3.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. prefer(Verb)

   To advance, promote (someone).

2. prefer(Verb)

   To be in the habit of choosing something rather than something else; to favor; to like better.

   I prefer tea to coffee.

3. prefer(Verb)

   To present or submit (something) to an authority (now usually in "to prefer charges").

4. prefer(Verb)

   To put forward for acceptance; to introduce, recommend (to).

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Prefer(verb)

   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

2. Prefer(verb)

   to go before, or be before, in estimation; to outrank; to surpass

3. Prefer(verb)

   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

4. Prefer(verb)

   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(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. 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

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'prefer' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2908

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'prefer' in Written Corpus Frequency: #1837

3. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'prefer' in Verbs Frequency: #304

How to pronounce prefer?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say prefer in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of prefer in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of prefer in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of prefer in a Sentence

1. Michael Froman:

   We had made a pretty big point of making it clear that we weren't willing to sacrifice our domestic economic interests for the sake of some foreign policy issue, we should be careful about 'paying' China -- in terms of standing down on economic issues -- for doing what is in their interest already. Conceivably, they'd prefer not to see instability and military escalation on the Korean Peninsula.

2. Peter Ueda:

   You could say that there is a demand for alternative sexual or romantic experiences because people are finding it difficult to find partners, or you could hypothesize that the rise in these services are because some people prefer to express their sexuality in these ways.

3. Trisha Torrey:

   For providers you don’t have to see often, or those who you are only seeing one time, like for a second opinion, then you might be a little more forgiving on their inability to communicate in the style you prefer, learn what you can from them, return if you have further questions, but know you can get the other aspects that are important from someone you’ll be seeing for a longer term, or more important reason.

4. Jay Carney:

   I think the President has signaled, while still remaining neutral, that he supports Secretary Clinton's candidacy and would prefer to see her as the nominee, he won't officially embrace her unless and until it's clear that she's going to be the nominee. I think he is maintaining that tradition of not intervening in a party primary.

5. Don Lemon:

   So if that means that cable news ratings go down? Aww. So I’m not really that concerned about it. I would prefer that my ratings go down and Trump not be in office than my ratings be sky-high and him be there. That’s the honest truth. encyclopedia.

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