preferring 1 of 2

adjective

as in choosing

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

preferring

2 of 2

verb

present participle of prefer
1
as in liking
to show partiality toward I generally prefer chocolate ice cream over vanilla

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in selecting
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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of preferring
Verb
Rota chose to live in Southern Italy, in Bari, preferring it to his native Milan and Rome, the country’s capital of cinema. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026 He is listed at a slight 5-foot-11 and 172 pounds, with many NHL evaluators preferring bigger centers. — Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 At its most recent meeting in July, three committee members dissented from the decision, preferring to raise the target range by a quarter-point. — Rachel Barber, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026 More important issues, like preferring the windows open and a golf addiction make the cut. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Bateman has no need for bios, preferring to work off the script alone. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026 Kennedy Onassis rarely wore the rock in public, preferring to keep it in a bank vault for safekeeping. — Freya Drohan, InStyle, 16 Aug. 2026 Teens often describe chatbot interactions as emotionally meaningful or supportive, sometimes even preferring chatbot conversations to talking with friends. — Megan Kelly, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026 These dragonflies live near bodies of water, preferring those with calm currents, like ponds, wetlands, or slow-moving streams. — Rachel Sargent Mirus, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preferring
  1. liking
  2. choosing
  3. favoring
  4. selecting
  5. enjoying
  6. picking
  7. wanting
Verb
  • Germany has a different reason for liking the early dismissal.
    — Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Those pairs would also align with Babcock’s liking for offensive-minded puck-movers on their strong side.
    — Janson Duench, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of liking
Verb
  • Give that interest something concrete, such as researching a course, comparing destinations, or choosing a date.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2026
  • In November, voters in 26 states will elect a secretary of state, choosing the officials who will oversee the 2028 presidential race throughout most of the country.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of choosing
Verb
  • Hospitals fought back, and Congress rejected the proposal, instead favoring a voluntary approach desired by the industry.
    — Stephanie Armour, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Hong, favoring a backward-facing view of the mayhem, shoots in lengthy takes that swerve and snake with rough-and-tumble precision; the energies of car and camera seem to fuse into one.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of favoring
Verb
  • While the species can reach large tree height, selecting a smaller bush variety that produces blue-green fruits in fall is a plus for the garden.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Outside of selecting at the top of the draft for several more seasons, this organization doesn’t have many avenues to upgrade its roster and couldn’t afford to miss the opportunity to bet long and big on Buium.
    — Thomas Drance, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of selecting
Verb
  • Enzo Maresca has brought more composure to their in-possession play, with City enjoying 69 per cent possession, an increase on the 53 per cent average from the final two league games of 2025-26.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • While neither of these experiences is essential to enjoying your stay, the additional charges do chip away at the all-inclusive promise.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of enjoying
Verb
  • The level of media attention could also make picking a second impartial jury more difficult, a factor that could influence Cruz's decision.
    — Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The wildcard should be about targeting the fixture swings and picking players with long-term potential, rather than chasing points already scored.
    — Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of picking
Verb
  • The news about Guimaraes wanting to leave was followed almost immediately by Johan Manzambi, Newcastle’s top target across all positions, opting for Aston Villa at the final moment.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • As his memories begin to fade, he's left in a panic, not wanting to lose everything.
    — Grace Dean, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of wanting

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Cite this Entry

“Preferring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preferring. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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