preferably

adverb

pref·​er·​a·​bly ˈpre-f(ə-)rə-blē 

also pri-ˈfər-ə-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 of preferably

• rather
• 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

Seek shelter promptly in a safe location, preferably indoors. —Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 27 May 2026

Prune indeterminate tomatoes at least every couple of weeks, preferably more often, as new suckers appear on the plant. —Patricia S York, Southern Living, 23 May 2026

And make sure those games are shown in home markets, preferably on over-the-air outlets. —Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 23 May 2026

At the movies, mysterious disappearances that cue a hero’s rescue mission are usually those of young women and girls, preferably white, bonus points for blonde. —Jessica Kiang, Variety, 22 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1700, in the meaning defined above