preferably

adverb

pref·​er·​a·​bly ˈpre-f(ə-)rə-blē 

: by choice or preference

—used to indicate what is wanted or preferred

The work should be done soon, preferably by the end of the week.

Applicants should hold a college degree, preferably with teaching experience.

Water thoroughly during the coolest time of day (preferably early morning), then allow soil to dry completely … before watering again.

—Michael MacCaskey

Mound flour on a work surface (preferably wooden) and make a large well in center with your fingertips.

—Lynne Rossetto Kasper

Synonyms

• fain
• first
• rather
• readily
• soon
• willingly

Examples of preferably in a Sentence

I like football, but preferably watching from the stands rather than being down on the field

Recent Examples on the Web

Form into balls and set on a clean baking sheet or container, cover, and refrigerate for at least 24 hours, but preferably up to 48 hours. —Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 28 May 2024

Time to reclaim them, preferably in a room lit by candlelight, or nothing but the naked screen. —Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 24 May 2024

There’s a long a tradition of using that figure, preferably inflated, as a marketing hook in your movie’s rollout. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 May 2024

Get into another room, preferably a windowless room, instead. 4. —Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 29 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1700, in the meaning defined above