preferred; preferring
1
: to promote or advance to a rank or position
2
: to like better or best
prefers sports to reading
prefers to watch TV
3
: to give (a creditor) priority
4
archaic
: to put or set forward or before someone : recommend
5
: to bring or lay against someone
won't prefer charges
6
: to bring forward or lay before one for consideration
preferrer
noun
Examples of prefer in a Sentence
Some people like vanilla ice cream, but I prefer chocolate.
She tends to prefer small college campuses.
I prefer this dictionary because of its helpful examples.
Which one is the preferred alternative?
What is the preferred pronunciation of her name?
Recent Examples on the Web
On top of this, many European investors, especially institutional ones, prefer funds that meet ESG (environmental, social and governance) criteria.
—
Yerik Aubakirov, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Some people prefer mountain bikes for navigating downtown or a leisurely ride.
—Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
Maybe the Universe could be teeming with advanced aliens who just… prefer to stay home.
—ArsTechnica, 26 Mar. 2025
Our tasters unanimously preferred the syrup that used the most ripe bananas.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prefer
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Yerik Aubakirov, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Some people prefer mountain bikes for navigating downtown or a leisurely ride.
—Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
Maybe the Universe could be teeming with advanced aliens who just… prefer to stay home.
—ArsTechnica, 26 Mar. 2025
Our tasters unanimously preferred the syrup that used the most ripe bananas.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prefer
Cite this Entry
“Prefer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefer. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prefer
verb
pre·fer
pri-ˈfər 
preferred; preferring
1
: to choose or like better than another
prefer dark clothes
2
: to present for action or consideration
prefer charges against a thief
Legal Definition
prefer
transitive verb
pre·fer
pri-ˈfər
preferred; preferring
1
: to give (a creditor or debt) priority or preference
any preferred charges such as child support or alimony—In re Smiley, 427 P.2d 179 (1967)
In re Smiley, 427 P.2d 179 (1967)2
: to bring forward for determination
especially
: to bring (a charge) against someone
the various means by which a grand jury might prefer charges —State v. Byrd, 399 S.E.2d 267 (1990)
State v. Byrd, 399 S.E.2d 267 (1990) Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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