prefer

verb
UK: /prɪˈfɜː/
US: /prɪˈfɜːr/

  1. To like one thing more than another.

    1. I prefer tea to coffee because it's gentler. [ ] [ ]
    2. Many young adults prefer streaming services to traditional cable television these days. [ ] [ ]

  2. To choose or want something more than something else; to favor.

    1. Do you prefer to sit inside or outside on the terrace? [ ] [ ]
    2. She mentioned that she would prefer a quiet evening at home rather than attending a loud party. [ ] [ ]

  3. To present charges formally to a court.

    1. The police will prefer charges if they gather enough evidence. [ ] [ ]
    2. They are expected to prefer charges against him at the next court hearing based on the new testimony. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

favor choose fancy would rather
prefer adjective

  1. Giving priority or advantage to someone.

    1. They offer preferred customer discounts to loyal clients. [ ] [ ]
    2. As a preferred lender, they can offer very competitive mortgage rates. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "prefer" in English means: To like one thing more than another., To choose or want something more than something else; to favor., To present charges formally to a court..

The phonetic transcription of "prefer" is /prɪˈfɜː/ in British English and /prɪˈfɜːr/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "prefer": favor, choose, fancy, would rather.

Example usage of "prefer": "I prefer tea to coffee because it's gentler.". More examples on the page.