1
as in to like
to show partiality toward
I generally prefer chocolate ice cream over vanilla
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to choose
to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities
most buyers of that vehicle have preferred the model with four-wheel drive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of prefer
Those two methods work fine, but Venmo prefers to import your Facebook profile to generate a potential friends list.
—
PCMAG, 13 Mar. 2025
Some people prefer the uncooked version of the vegetable.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2025
Some riders still prefer this material, however, because of its superior ability to reduce impact and vibration.
—Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2025
And Freeman, who has served on the corporate boards of fossil fuel companies and negotiated with automakers, said many major industry leaders have already adapted to climate regulations and prefer stability to sudden change.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prefer
PCMAG, 13 Mar. 2025
Some people prefer the uncooked version of the vegetable.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2025
Some riders still prefer this material, however, because of its superior ability to reduce impact and vibration.
—Bestreviews, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2025
And Freeman, who has served on the corporate boards of fossil fuel companies and negotiated with automakers, said many major industry leaders have already adapted to climate regulations and prefer stability to sudden change.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prefer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prefer
Verb
-
The heaviest bend would have come immediately after the hook set, which never occurs (maybe Quint liked circle hooks).—
Joe Cermele,
Outdoor Life,
13 Mar. 2025
-
Then there was a change of manager and the new guy, Mel Machin, liked the look of him.—
George Caulkin,
The Athletic,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The Suns drafted him with the 22nd pick, one of three Arkansas Razorbacks chosen in the first round, joining Todd Day and Lee Mayberry.—
Doug Haller,
The Athletic,
13 Mar. 2025
-
When choosing a supplement, look for products independently tested or certified by organizations such as the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), United States Pharmacopeia (USP), or ConsumerLab.—
Stephanie Brown,
Verywell Health,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The legend of Two Lovers Point is a timeless, bittersweet tale of eternal love and every year, thousands of locals and visitors come through and celebrate their love while enjoying one of the best views on Guam.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025
-
Nicole has written for Conde Nast Traveler, Domino, Harper’s Bazaar, and Elle, among other titles, and enjoys crafting stories where several pockets of culture intersect.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
After winning the 2024 presidential election, Trump selected former Arizona gubernatorial and Senate candidate Kari Lake to head VOA.—
Filip Timotija,
The Hill,
15 Mar. 2025
-
According to Colossal’s chief science officer, Beth Shapiro, these genetic edits were selected based on comparative studies of ancient mammoth DNA recovered from preserved remains.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Viewpoint neutrality — the principle that the government cannot favor one viewpoint over another — is important, not only to protect the speaker from censorship but also to safeguard the rights of the listeners.—
Bastiaan Vanacker,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
-
However, the Tigers shoot 37.0% from three, and the infamous KenPom ratings do not favor Drake, which is the lowest 11th seed (58th).—
Ryan Morik,
Fox News,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
When asked to pick a favorite (an unfair question, admittedly), Dynevor highlights an undersung benefit of antiques: their usefulness.—
Nora Taylor,
Architectural Digest,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Get tickets on StubHub Own your bracket pool with The Athletic Projecting the bracket | Best picks to win the title | Best bracket names No. 1 USC Trojans Strengths: The biggest plus is that USC has JuJu Watkins.—
The Athletic,
The Athletic,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Now, an expert in military manpower at RAND wants to see the services shift their focus from quantity to quality.—
Cory Smith,
Baltimore Sun,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Jukebox Broadway musicals need conflict and the evil suits at Capitol Records are a perennial villain for artists who just want to be themselves.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prefer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefer. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share