preferred; preferring
1
: to promote or advance to a rank or position
2
: to like better or best
prefers sports to reading
prefers to watch TV
3
: to give (a creditor) priority
4
archaic
: to put or set forward or before someone : recommend
5
: to bring or lay against someone
won't prefer charges
6
: to bring forward or lay before one for consideration
preferrer
noun
Examples of prefer in a Sentence
Some people like vanilla ice cream, but I prefer chocolate.
She tends to prefer small college campuses.
I prefer this dictionary because of its helpful examples.
Which one is the preferred alternative?
What is the preferred pronunciation of her name?
Recent Examples on the Web
Nearly fifty per cent of participants preferred the texts written by artificial intelligence.
—
Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2026
Trump has never appreciated multilateral alliances and organizations, preferring their bilateral counterparts instead.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2026
But even if its energy supply is relatively secure, China would still prefer an end to the blockade.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 17 Mar. 2026
Like the vaccines, those that would prefer not to drink fluoridated water have other options.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prefer
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Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2026
Trump has never appreciated multilateral alliances and organizations, preferring their bilateral counterparts instead.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2026
But even if its energy supply is relatively secure, China would still prefer an end to the blockade.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 17 Mar. 2026
Like the vaccines, those that would prefer not to drink fluoridated water have other options.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prefer
Cite this Entry
“Prefer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefer. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prefer
verb
pre·fer
pri-ˈfər 
preferred; preferring
1
: to choose or like better than another
prefer dark clothes
2
: to present for action or consideration
prefer charges against a thief
Legal Definition
prefer
transitive verb
pre·fer
pri-ˈfər
preferred; preferring
1
: to give (a creditor or debt) priority or preference
any preferred charges such as child support or alimony—In re Smiley, 427 P.2d 179 (1967)
In re Smiley, 427 P.2d 179 (1967)2
: to bring forward for determination
especially
: to bring (a charge) against someone
the various means by which a grand jury might prefer charges —State v. Byrd, 399 S.E.2d 267 (1990)
State v. Byrd, 399 S.E.2d 267 (1990) Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
