1
as in to like
to show partiality toward
I generally prefer chocolate ice cream over vanilla
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to choose
to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities
most buyers of that vehicle have preferred the model with four-wheel drive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of prefer
The amount of uncertainty facing employers is huge, and most prefer to wait and see what happens before hiring more workers or laying them off in large numbers.
—
Harry Holzer, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Instead of China’s current licensing regime, the EU trade chief said the bloc prefers a systematic solution, such as a general application once a year for each company, to avoid paperwork delays and stress applied to the industry.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
Reps the Royals would have preferred to give him at Triple-A Omaha before his neon numbers at the plate and their puny offensive production converged to accelerate the call-up.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 5 June 2025
Ever thoughtful about nesting, the herons prefer to do so on the branches of six tree species of the 43 kinds scattered around the outdoor exhibits: red maple, sugar maple, river birch, white mulberry, American hornbeam and common hackberry.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prefer
Harry Holzer, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Instead of China’s current licensing regime, the EU trade chief said the bloc prefers a systematic solution, such as a general application once a year for each company, to avoid paperwork delays and stress applied to the industry.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
Reps the Royals would have preferred to give him at Triple-A Omaha before his neon numbers at the plate and their puny offensive production converged to accelerate the call-up.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 5 June 2025
Ever thoughtful about nesting, the herons prefer to do so on the branches of six tree species of the 43 kinds scattered around the outdoor exhibits: red maple, sugar maple, river birch, white mulberry, American hornbeam and common hackberry.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prefer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prefer
Verb
-
All the evidence says that, yes, he was liked and respected by his team-mates at all his clubs.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
-
There are a lot of fans who like kung fu movies, Samurai films, Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Bullet, Clint Eastwood and Sergio Leone.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
5 June 2025
Verb
-
There are so many reasons why a player may choose to play in a particular location, for a particular team, for a particular coach that have nothing to do with the tax situation in that market.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
5 June 2025
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Keene Housing is among those that have chosen to drop their time limits.—
Jennifer Ludden,
NPR,
4 June 2025
Verb
-
On warm summer evenings your patio may come alive with the powerful croaking of tree frogs that enjoy the moist and protective habitat of potted succulents.—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 June 2025
-
Designed with a deep respect for the natural landscape, each homesite averages over a half acre, giving homeowners the space and serenity to enjoy a tranquil lifestyle rarely found in today’s fast-growing Kansas City metropolitan area.—
Prime Development Land Company,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2025
Verb
-
Joseph was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft and played for the team until 2022, according to the NFL.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 June 2025
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Two keepers who were selected to the team for training camp and the Concacaf Gold Cup later this month have been sidelined with injuries.—
Michael Lewis,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
With limited law enforcement action targeting clearnet advertisers and a sluggish regulatory response, the risk-reward balance heavily favors fraudsters.—
Dr. David Maimon,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
-
Government policy became more progressive (favoring those down the income scale), not less.—
David Brooks,
Mercury News,
31 May 2025
Verb
-
Speaking of the color-correcting actives, users can customize their tan to counteract skin concerns—just pick based on the bottle color.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
2 June 2025
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The Bears lacked a veteran presence at quarterback last season during a crucial time when No. 1 draft pick Caleb Williams could’ve used an experienced teammate to lean on.—
Sean Hammond,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2025
Verb
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Tucked into the Hollywood Hills and perched a half-mile above the Sunset Strip, the Lew House (built in 1958) offers four en-suite bedrooms for groups who want to kick back and relax.—
Kristine Hansen,
Architectural Digest,
30 May 2025
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Barkov would probably want that spread around to the rest of the team.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prefer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefer. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
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