favorite

1 of 2

noun

fa·​vor·​ite ˈfā-v(ə-)rət How to pronounce favorite (audio)
ˈfā-vərt,
 chiefly dialectal  ˈfā-və-ˌrīt
1
: one that is treated or regarded with special favor or liking
That song is my favorite.
especially : a person who is specially loved, trusted, or provided with favors by someone of high rank or authority
The king granted the land to two of his favorites.
2
: a competitor judged most likely to win
Which horse is the favorite in this race?

favorite

2 of 2

adjective

: constituting a favorite
his favorite daughter
especially : markedly popular
the country's favorite sport

Examples of favorite in a Sentence

Noun Of all his books, do you have a favorite? That movie is my favorite. That movie is a great favorite with audiences everywhere. Adjective that teacher claims not to have any favorite students, although many in the class would disagree mint chocolate chip is my favorite flavor of ice cream
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The Plot Express is the one of the latest restaurants to find a spot at The Cottages, a new collective at 2956 Roosevelt Street in Carlsbad Village that serves up a range of tasty treats, including a professional surfer’s poke favorites and vegan Cuban sandwiches. Roxana Becerril, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2023 Ohtani finished his season as the favorite to win the American League most valuable player award. Sarah Valenzuela, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2023 Patio space and frequent live music make Rum and Wine Bar Restaurant a favorite in Christiansted. 06 Sample local Crucian fare. Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2023 This classic take on a true Southern favorite will bring joy to any plate for the holidays. Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 22 Sep. 2023 So, feel free to stock up on your Fenty favorites, including the Fenty Beauty Icon Semi-Matte Refillable Lipstick or Best of Beauty-winning Butta Drop Whipped Oil Body Cream — no code needed. Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 22 Sep. 2023 The temperature is expected to be in the high 80s for kickoff at Tiger Stadium and Daniels is off to a rip-roaring start that has the 6-4, 210-pound quarterback among the top 10 betting favorites for the Heisman Trophy. Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 22 Sep. 2023 Former President Donald Trump holds a commanding lead in the Republican presidential primary, and is the clear favorite to win his party’s nomination. Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2023 Discovered on the street, Cloud became a fan favorite of the HBO teen drama series for his portrayal of Fezco. Doha Madani, NBC News, 21 Sep. 2023
Adjective
All the can't-miss looks on your favorite stars from this week's most major events See what your favorite stars stepped out wearing this week, including Charlize Theron's bold Alexander McQueen look. Genevieve Cepeda, Peoplemag, 25 Sep. 2023 Here, five of our favorite beauty trends from Milan's spring 2024 runways. Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2023 Icebox cakes are a favorite make-ahead option for summer gatherings. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2023 To mix it up, add hiking maps of your favorite locations or botanical prints. Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2023 Carson appears to have improved greatly to earn the favorite’s role behind running back-linebacker Jerry Misaalefua, who has rushed for 678 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2023 And Peter Thiel cites The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson as one of his favorite books. Jonathan Taplin, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2023 Keep scrolling for our favorite fall shoe styles for $50 or less. Megan Schaltegger, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2023 Plus, Daryl gets a new favorite weapon, one that fits the milieu. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'favorite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Italian favorito, past participle of favorire to favor, from favore favor, from Latin favor

First Known Use

Noun

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1692, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of favorite was in 1583

Dictionary Entries Near favorite

Cite this Entry

“Favorite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/favorite. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.

Kids Definition

favorite

1 of 2 noun
fa·​vor·​ite ˈfāv-(ə-)rət How to pronounce favorite (audio)
1
: a person or a thing that is preferred more than others
2
: the contestant considered as having the best chance to win

favorite

2 of 2 adjective
: being a favorite
our favorite show

More from Merriam-Webster on favorite

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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