Library / English Dictionary

PREFER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: preferred    , preferring   

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Select as an alternative over another

Example:

She opted for the job on the East coast

Synonyms:

choose; opt; prefer

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

"Prefer" entails doing...:

compare (examine and note the similarities or differences of)

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

cop out; opt out (choose not to do something, as out of fear of failing)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sentence example:

They prefer him to write the letter

Derivation:

preference (a predisposition in favor of something)

preferment (the act of preferring)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Like better; value more highly

Example:

We prefer sleeping outside

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

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

like (find enjoyable or agreeable)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Somebody ----s to somebody
Somebody ----s VERB-ing

Sentence example:

They prefer him to write the letter

Derivation:

preference (a strong liking)

Sense 3

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 "prefer" 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 "prefer"):

advantage (give an advantage to)

Sentence frames:

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

Derivation:

preferment (the act of preferring)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Give preference to one creditor over another

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

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

pay (give money, usually in exchange for goods or services)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Credits

 Context examples: 

We soon found out that our tastes were exactly alike in preferring the country to every other place; really, our opinions were so exactly the same, it was quite ridiculous!

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Had it been the effect of gratitude, had he learnt to love her, because he believed her to be preferring him, it would have been another thing.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

They say, Farewell, or any other form they prefer.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

They should prefer short-cycle varieties instead of long-cycle that would have more chance to be affected by drought.

(El Niño linked to widespread crop failures, SciDev.Net)

Has there been any change in the type of food he/she prefers?

(NPI - Change in Appetite, Weight, or Eating Habits, NCI Thesaurus)

The Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-q) Caused you to stay home more often than you would prefer?

(OAB-q - Stay Home More Often Than You Would Prefer, NCI Thesaurus)

I preferred to stay at home and write letters.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

TRKA is specific for or 'preferred by'

(Nerve Growth Factor Receptor, NCI Thesaurus)

This allele, which encodes lipoma-preferred partner protein, may play a role in cell motility and cell shape.

(LPP wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)