as in rather
by choice or preference
I like football, but preferably watching from the stands rather than being down on the field
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preferably
Attractiveness: as slower modes of movement are more sensitive for the quality of urban space, cycle routes should preferably use varied small-scale environments.
—
Carlton Reid, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Partial sun typically means 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day, preferably in the morning or early afternoon.
—Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
Put the book in the freezer and keep it sealed for at least 48 hours, but preferably a week.
—Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 July 2025
Or, perhaps preferably, turn away from watermarks and towards tactics that can positively prove an image’s authenticity, such as content credentials.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preferably
Carlton Reid, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Partial sun typically means 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day, preferably in the morning or early afternoon.
—Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
Put the book in the freezer and keep it sealed for at least 48 hours, but preferably a week.
—Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 July 2025
Or, perhaps preferably, turn away from watermarks and towards tactics that can positively prove an image’s authenticity, such as content credentials.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preferably
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preferably
rather
Adverb
-
But this will be no typical return, rather a return by the franchise’s all-time leader in 3-pointers.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Aug. 2025
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The former Super Bowl champion was expected to practice on Saturday, but now, Los Angeles has offered some rather strange information on Stafford.—
Matthew Schmidt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preferably.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preferably. Accessed 31 Aug. 2025.
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