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
Because President Clinton's favorite is enchiladas. Katia Riddle, NPR, 12 Sep. 2024 At the tail end of August, the Irish rock favorites shared the Zoo TV: Live In Dublin 1993 EP, which featured five tracks recorded in their home city more than three decades ago. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024
Adjective
It will be filmed at New York City’s interactive Friends Experience location, allowing contestants to see the show’s iconic sets and re-live their favorite show moments while racing for the top prize. Rebecca Iannucci, TVLine, 23 Sep. 2024 Best Everyday Tech Bag: Status Anxiety Seclusion Bag Say goodbye to boring bags to transport your tech and say hello to your new favorite go-to. Sarah Boyd, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for favorite 

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 5 Oct. 2024.

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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!