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
In 1847, Henri-Clément Sanson, who preferred gambling to guillotining, pawned off the family apparatus.
—
Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, those who prefer to simply unwind by the pool can also do so in perfect peace.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
Some may also prefer prevention strategies that focus on individual behavior rather than environmental control.
—Emily Bache, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
Its members resist transparency about their decision making, preferring discretion and control.
—Sven Van Mourik, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prefer
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Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, those who prefer to simply unwind by the pool can also do so in perfect peace.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
Some may also prefer prevention strategies that focus on individual behavior rather than environmental control.
—Emily Bache, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
Its members resist transparency about their decision making, preferring discretion and control.
—Sven Van Mourik, The Dial, 31 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 1 Apr. 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
