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
Confirmed: Al Green, very much alive, prefers Automatic for the People over Monster.
—
Devon Ivie, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
Some prefer a big, fluffy tree, while others have made a tradition out of decorating a sparse Charlie Brown tree (including Mariah Carey!).
—Genevieve Cepeda, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024
Not everyone wants to host a grand feast for Thanksgiving — some folks prefer a takeout meal, while others would rather skip the fuss of hosting entirely.
—Kale Williams, Axios, 19 Nov. 2024
And while ticks often prefer specific hosts, some other species that feed on dogs may also occasionally attach to humans.
—Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prefer 
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Devon Ivie, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
Some prefer a big, fluffy tree, while others have made a tradition out of decorating a sparse Charlie Brown tree (including Mariah Carey!).
—Genevieve Cepeda, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024
Not everyone wants to host a grand feast for Thanksgiving — some folks prefer a takeout meal, while others would rather skip the fuss of hosting entirely.
—Kale Williams, Axios, 19 Nov. 2024
And while ticks often prefer specific hosts, some other species that feed on dogs may also occasionally attach to humans.
—Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prefer
Dictionary Entries Near prefer
Cite this Entry
“Prefer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefer. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
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?
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