Definitions for prefer
prɪˈfɜrpre·fer

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

1. preferverb

   like better; value more highly

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

2. 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"

3. prefer, favor, favourverb

   promote over another

   "he favors his second daughter"

4. preferverb

   give preference to one creditor over another

Wiktionary(3.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. preferverb

   To advance, promote (someone).

2. preferverb

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

   I prefer tea to coffee.

3. preferverb

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

4. preferverb

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

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

1. 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

2. Preferverb

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

3. 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

4. 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(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.]

Matched Categories

1. • Law
   • Like
   • Pay
   • Promote

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

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

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. Mehmet Murat ildan:

   Between a dead-hero and a living-no one, always prefer the latter, always prefer the life! Being no one is infinitely better than being dead!

2. Woody Allen:

   It’s so preposterous, and yet the smear has remained, and they still prefer to cling to, if not the notion that I molested Dylan, the possibility that I molested her. Nothing that I ever did with Dylan in my life could be misconstrued as that.

3. Michel de Montaigne:

   I prefer the company of peasants because they have not been educated sufficiently to reason incorrectly.

4. Alan Gayle:

   While we are underweight bonds, we prefer the yield and quality in the U.S. markets to those overseas.

5. Nikki Haley:

   One of our capabilities lies with our considerable military forces. We will use them if must, but we prefer not to have to go in that direction.

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