Adjacent Words

Prefer definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

PREFER', v.t. [L. proefero; proe, before, and fero, to bear or carry.]
1. Literally, to bear or carry in advance, in the mind, affections or choice; hence, to regard more than another; to honor or esteem above another.
It is sometimes followed by above, before, or to.
If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. Psalms 137.
He that cometh after me, is preferred before me. John 1.
2. To advance, as to an office or dignity; to raise; to exalt; as, to prefer one to a bishopric; to prefer an officer to the rank of general.
3. To offer; to present; to exhibit; usually with solemnity, or to a public body. It is our privilege to enjoy the right of preferring petitions to rulers for redress of wrongs.
My vows and prayers to thee preferred.
Prefer a bill against all kings and parliaments since the conquest.
4. To offer or present ceremoniously, or in ordinary familiar language.
He spake, and to her hand preferr'd the bowl.
[This is allowable, at least in poetry, though not usual.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: like better; value more highly; "Some people prefer camping to staying in hotels"; "We prefer sleeping outside"
2: select as an alternative over another; "I always choose the fish over the meat courses in this restaurant"; "She opted for the job on the East coast" [syn: choose, prefer, opt]
3: promote over another; "he favors his second daughter" [syn: prefer, favor, favour]
4: give preference to one creditor over another

Merriam Webster's

transitive verb (preferred; preferring) Etymology: Middle English preferren, from Anglo-French preferrer, from Latin praeferre to put before, prefer, from prae- + ferre to carry — more at bear Date: 14th century 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

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v.tr. (preferred, preferring) 1 (often foll. by to, or to + infin.) choose rather; like better (would prefer to stay; prefers coffee to tea). 2 submit (information, an accusation, etc.) for consideration. 3 promote or advance (a person). Phrases and idioms: preferred shares (or stock) = preference shares or stock. Etymology: ME f. OF preferer f. L praeferre (as PRAE-, ferre lat- bear)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Prefer Pre*fer", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preferred; p. pr. & vb. n. Preferring.] [F. pr['e]f['e]rer, L. praeferre; prae before + ferre to bear or carry. See 1st Bear.] 1. To carry or bring (something) forward, or before one; hence, to bring for consideration, acceptance, judgment, etc.; to offer; to present; to proffer; to address; -- said especially of a request, prayer, petition, claim, charge, etc. He spake, and to her hand preferred the bowl. --Pope. Presently prefer his suit to C[ae]sar. --Shak. Three tongues prefer strange orisons on high. --Byron. 2. To go before, or be before, in estimation; to outrank; to surpass. [Obs.] ``Though maidenhood prefer bigamy.'' --Chaucer. 3. To cause to go before; hence, to advance before others, as to an office or dignity; to raise; to exalt; to promote; as, to prefer an officer to the rank of general. I would prefer him to a better place. --Shak. 4. To set above or before something else in estimation, favor, or liking; to regard or honor before another; to hold in greater favor; to choose rather; -- often followed by to, before, or above. If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. --Ps. cxxxvii. 6. Preferred an infamous peace before a most just war. --Knolles. Preferred stock, stock which takes a dividend before other capital stock; -- called also preference stock and preferential stock. Syn: To choose; elect. See Choose.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(prefers, preferring, preferred) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. If you prefer someone or something, you like that person or thing better than another, and so you are more likely to choose them if there is a choice. Does he prefer a particular sort of music?... I became a teacher because I preferred books and people to politics... I prefer to go on self-catering holidays... I would prefer him to be with us next season... Bob prefers making original pieces rather than reproductions... The woodwork's green now. I preferred it blue... Her own preferred methods of exercise are hiking and long cycle rides. VERB: no cont, V n, V n to n, V to-inf, V n to-inf, V -ing, V n adj, V-ed, also V that

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pre-fur': Does not always have the general meaning "to choose before another." In Ps 137:6, it does have this sense and the two versions agree; in Es 2:9, the Revised Version (British and American) has "removed" where the King James Version has "preferred"; in Da 6:3, "distinguished" takes its place; in Joh 1:15,30, "become" is substituted for "preferred"; in 1:27, "preferred" drops out entirely; in Ro 12:10, the versions agree.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. a. 1. Offer, proffer, tender, present, address, bring forward, set forth. 2. Raise, elevate, promote, advance. 3. Choose, select, elect, pick, pick out, single out, fix upon, pitch upon, fancy, count more desirable.

Moby Thesaurus

advance, aggrandize, aim at, approve, be desirous of, be disposed to, be partial to, bring before, bring forward, bring up, broach, choose, choose rather, commend to attention, cull, desiderate, desire, discriminate, elect, elevate, embrace, ennoble, enter, espouse, esteem, exalt, extend, fancy, favor, feel about it, file, graduate, have a bias, have designs on, have preference, have rather, hold forth, hold out, honor before, incline toward, introduce, kick upstairs, knight, launch, lay before, lean toward, lean towards, like, like better, lodge, look at it, love, lust, lust after, make a motion, mark, moot, move, offer, offer a resolution, open up, opt for, pass, pick, play favorites, please, pose, postulate, prefer to, present, proffer, promote, propose, proposition, propound, put, put forth, put forward, put it to, put up, raise, rather, recommend, see fit, select, set before, set forth, show preference, single out, start, submit, suggest, take, take to, tend toward, tender, think best, think fit, think proper, treat unequally, up, upgrade, view, want, wish, wish to goodness, wish very much, would fain do