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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preferably
Talk shows have bands and green rooms; podcasts are for raw, unfiltered chat, though preferably, for companies like Netflix, also between famous people.
—
David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
The Bulls need to crash out hard enough in the final 30 games of the season to earn a decent lottery pick, preferably in the top five.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
The conditions in February at Bowman Gray are too unpredictable not to wonder whether NASCAR is better served by shifting the Clash to a different venue, preferably somewhere that offers a better chance to race in more amenable weather.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Powders come in large bags, preferably with a measured scoop included, and are perfect for adding to your preferred morning drink.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preferably
David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
The Bulls need to crash out hard enough in the final 30 games of the season to earn a decent lottery pick, preferably in the top five.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
The conditions in February at Bowman Gray are too unpredictable not to wonder whether NASCAR is better served by shifting the Clash to a different venue, preferably somewhere that offers a better chance to race in more amenable weather.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Powders come in large bags, preferably with a measured scoop included, and are perfect for adding to your preferred morning drink.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preferably
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preferably
Adverb
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For another, this drubbing, unlike many previous ones, was triggered not by fears of a bubble but rather concern that AI is on the verge of supplanting the business models of a wide swathe of companies that doomsayers have long predicted were at risk.—
Brody Ford,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
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According to this idea, although these objects may look like supersize red stars, their shine is powered not by standard stellar thermonuclear fusion but rather by the relentless funneling of burning-hot plasma into the insatiable maw of a snowballing black hole.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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Investigators do not believe Nancy Guthrie left her home willingly and that she was abducted in her sleep early Sunday morning, the Pima County Sheriff's Department told ABC News.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
3 Feb. 2026
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Volunteers often are needed for low-level jobs that Quimby does willingly, including keeping track of how long a person is taking for a shower, arbitrating the line for use of two bathrooms, and moderating use of washers and driers.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preferably.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preferably. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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