- (when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive)
to like better or value more highly: I prefer to stand (esp of the police) to put (charges) before a court, judge, magistrate, etc, for consideration and judgment - (tr; often passive)
to advance in rank over another or others; promote
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
pre•fer /prɪˈfɜr/USA pronunciation
v. [not: be + ~-ing], -ferred, -fer•ring.
See -fer-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- to set or hold before or above other persons or things: [~ + object]She prefers cheese, if you have some.[~ + verb-ing]She prefers running to walking.[~ + object + to + object]I prefer school to work.[~ + to + verb]She prefers to take a nap after a big meal.[~ + that clause]He preferred that we meet him outside his apartment.[no object]I'll come with you or, if you prefer, I'll wait outside.
- Idioms, Law prefer charges, to make or place an accusation of wrongdoing, a crime, etc., against another.
See -fer-.
pre•fer
(pri fûr′),USA pronunciation v.t., -ferred, -fer•ring.
pre•fer•red•ly
(pri fûr′id lē, -fûrd′lē),USA pronunciation adv.
pre•fer′red•ness, n.
pre•fer′rer, n.
- to set or hold before or above other persons or things in estimation; like better;
choose rather than:to prefer beef to chicken. - Lawto give priority, as to one creditor over another.
- to put forward or present (a statement, suit, charge, etc.) for consideration or sanction.
- to put forward or advance, as in rank or office;
promote:to be preferred for advancement.
- Latin praeferre to bear before, set before, prefer, equivalent. to prae- pre- + ferre to bear1
- Middle English preferre 1350–1400
pre•fer′rer, n.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged favor, fancy. See choose.
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged offer, proffer, tender.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged reject.
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged retract.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'prefer' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
-enne
- Berber
- Lapp
- MS
- Tanizaki Jun-ichiro
- abandon
- affect
- aliterate
- all
- aren't
- choose
- disabled
- dowager
- ess
- favor
- food
- front load
- go for
- homemade
- important
- latter
- like
- masterful
- neo-Catholic
- opt
- please
- predilection
- preferable
- preference
- preferment
- preferrous
- prefertile
- prefertilize
- prelate
- rather
- scotch
- see
- should
- small
- sociogram
- soon
- speak
- split infinitive
- tend
- they
- will
- wish