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 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

Needless to say, a sponge should be cleaned at least once a day, preferably after every use. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 11 Nov. 2025

Perhaps the Leafs will look for a short-term fix by way of a trade and add another third goalie — preferably one with NHL experience — to the mix. —Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025

The Red Sox need a middle-of-the-order power threat, preferably a righty who can launch balls over the Green Monster. —Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025

A little splash of any kind of milk, preferably a house made nut milk but those are hard to come by. —Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 30 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1700, in the meaning defined above