Library / English Dictionary

FAVOUR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

An act of gracious kindness

Synonyms:

favor; favour

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("favour" is a kind of...):

benignity; kindness (a kind act)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "favour"):

good turn; turn (a favor for someone)

Derivation:

favour (bestow a privilege upon)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Souvenir consisting of a small gift given to a guest at a party

Synonyms:

favor; favour; party favor; party favour

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("favour" is a kind of...):

keepsake; relic; souvenir; token (something of sentimental value)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "favour"):

cracker; cracker bonbon; snapper (a party favor consisting of a paper roll (usually containing candy or a small favor) that pops when pulled at both ends)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An advantage to the benefit of someone or something

Example:

the outcome was in his favor

Synonyms:

favor; favour

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("favour" is a kind of...):

advantage; vantage (the quality of having a superior or more favorable position)

Sense 4

Meaning:

An inclination to approve

Example:

that style is in favor this season

Synonyms:

favor; favour

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("favour" is a kind of...):

disposition; inclination; tendency (an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A feeling of favorable regard

Synonyms:

favor; favour

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Hypernyms ("favour" is a kind of...):

approval (a feeling of liking something or someone good)

Derivation:

favour (promote over another)

favour (bestow a privilege upon)

favour (treat gently or carefully)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Consider as the favorite

Example:

The local team was favored

Synonyms:

favor; favour

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "favour" is one way to...):

consider; reckon; regard; see; view (deem to be)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Promote over another

Example:

he favors his second daughter

Synonyms:

favor; favour; prefer

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "favour" is one way to...):

advance; elevate; kick upstairs; promote; raise; upgrade (give a promotion to or assign to a higher position)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "favour"):

advantage (give an advantage to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence examples:

Sam cannot favour Sue

The chefs favour the vegetables

Derivation:

favour (a feeling of favorable regard)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Bestow a privilege upon

Synonyms:

favor; favour; privilege

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "favour" is one way to...):

allow; countenance; let; permit (consent to, give permission)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

They favour him to write the letter

Derivation:

favour (an act of gracious kindness)

favour (a feeling of favorable regard)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Treat gently or carefully

Synonyms:

favor; favour

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "favour" is one way to...):

save; spare (refrain from harming)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

favour (a feeling of favorable regard)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Mina's report still the same: lapping waves and rushing water, darkness and favouring winds.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

This brought me to a full stop, and if fortune had not again particularly favoured me, I should have had to abandon my design.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Her answer was warmly in his favour.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

I am now going to claim the protection of some friends, whom I sincerely love, and of whose favour I have some hopes.’

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Barrett points out that the Inuit of the region favoured female walruses when hunting, so the prevalence of females in Greenland’s later exports could imply a growing Norse reliance on Inuit supply.

(Over-hunting walruses contributed to the collapse of Norse Greenland, University of Cambridge)

There was a general shout in favour of the coach-house, and those who were nearest the door began to slip through, in the hope of scouring the best places.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And you, Lestrade, could you favour us with your company for an hour or two?

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“On your side,” said Mr. Utterson “will you do me a favour?”

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Unfortunately, we found that there was no way to avoid the inevitable hangover just by favouring one order over another.

(Wine before beer, or beer before wine? Either way, you’ll be hungover, University of Cambridge)

And his person, his manners too, are all in his favour.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)