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
Remove from the oven and immediately place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight, for best results.
—
Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 6 June 2025
Turn several times, then cover and place in the refrigerator overnight, at least 12 hours and preferably 24.
—Georgeanne Brennan, Mercury News, 5 June 2025
Seek shelter promptly in a safe location, preferably indoors.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 7 June 2025
Tickets cost around €6.60 one way (preferably cash, paid on board), and the journey takes about two hours each way.
—Erica Firpo, AFAR Media, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for preferably
Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 6 June 2025
Turn several times, then cover and place in the refrigerator overnight, at least 12 hours and preferably 24.
—Georgeanne Brennan, Mercury News, 5 June 2025
Seek shelter promptly in a safe location, preferably indoors.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 7 June 2025
Tickets cost around €6.60 one way (preferably cash, paid on board), and the journey takes about two hours each way.
—Erica Firpo, AFAR Media, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for preferably
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preferably
rather
Adverb
-
Features like real-time rewards, transparent APY breakdowns, and sequencer fee recycling are designed to meet the demands of firms that need more than narratives, but rather need yield, efficiency, and accountability.—
Azeem Khan,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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In the long term, industry leadership may no longer be reserved solely for companies with the most resources but rather for those that excel at connecting diverse innovation forces and facilitating efficient value flow within the innovation ecosystem.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preferably.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preferably. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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