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
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Recent Examples of preferring
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 June 2026
Initially, Giles doesn’t tell Buffy and the Scoobies about any of this, preferring to conceal his rebellious youth from the impressionable youngsters.
—ArsTechnica, 7 June 2026
Fans preferring to watch inside can head to the popular Brooklyn bowling alley and concert venue on Wythe Ave.
—Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 7 June 2026
Goldman Sachs is officially preferring mainland Chinese stocks to those traded in Hong Kong.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 3 June 2026
Saret was avowedly disinterested in the market mechanics of the art world, preferring largely to avoid fairs and biennials.
—News Desk, Artforum, 3 June 2026
Meanwhile, those who switched to preferring remote work often spoke of personal arrangements as a key driver.
—Alanah Mitchell, The Conversation, 2 June 2026
Known for her light-handed, effortless approach, Rōszak avoids anything that feels overly styled, preferring instead to enhance hair’s natural texture and movement.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 1 June 2026
Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob declined to join Sacramento’s campaign, preferring to buy an existing team rather than wait years for expansion, three people with knowledge of the situation said.
—Michael McGough. Story Produced With Ai Assistance, Sacbee.com, 30 May 2026
Verb
Robins Robins don't nest in cavities, preferring to make their homes on horizontal branches or flat surfaces like ledges and eaves.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 June 2026
Initially, Giles doesn’t tell Buffy and the Scoobies about any of this, preferring to conceal his rebellious youth from the impressionable youngsters.
—ArsTechnica, 7 June 2026
Fans preferring to watch inside can head to the popular Brooklyn bowling alley and concert venue on Wythe Ave.
—Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 7 June 2026
Goldman Sachs is officially preferring mainland Chinese stocks to those traded in Hong Kong.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 3 June 2026
Saret was avowedly disinterested in the market mechanics of the art world, preferring largely to avoid fairs and biennials.
—News Desk, Artforum, 3 June 2026
Meanwhile, those who switched to preferring remote work often spoke of personal arrangements as a key driver.
—Alanah Mitchell, The Conversation, 2 June 2026
Known for her light-handed, effortless approach, Rōszak avoids anything that feels overly styled, preferring instead to enhance hair’s natural texture and movement.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 1 June 2026
Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob declined to join Sacramento’s campaign, preferring to buy an existing team rather than wait years for expansion, three people with knowledge of the situation said.
—Michael McGough. Story Produced With Ai Assistance, Sacbee.com, 30 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preferring
Verb
-
Trysta Krick and Jay Croucher discuss the World Cup odds for best player of the tournament, and Croucher shares his reasoning behind liking France's Kylian Mbappé (+900) best for the award.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
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Not liking acting as a child came from feeling a lack of autonomy in my decisions and creativity.—
Marcel Ruiz,
IndieWire,
8 June 2026
Verb
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In her acceptance speech, Swift said choosing to be a songwriter was easy, then fought back tears while thanking her family.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
-
How does choosing Gwen Graham help push Florida and Democrats into the future?—
Sofia Baltodano,
Miami Herald,
12 June 2026
Verb
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In 2021, the district moved ceremonies to Sutter Health Park to comply with public health guidance favoring outdoor venues.—
Hector Amezcua,
Sacbee.com,
8 June 2026
-
The Justice Department recently concluded that medical schools at Yale and UCLA discriminated against white and Asian American students by allegedly favoring Black and Latino applicants.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
The actor decorated the residence herself, tackling one room at a time and carefully selecting everything from the furnishings to the fabrics.—
Michelle Duncan,
Architectural Digest,
12 June 2026
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Then came the work; visiting distilleries, playing with mash bills, tasting endlessly and hand-selecting the whiskeys that would eventually go into their blends.—
Lela London,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
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As a result, the crowd is a mix of everyone from brunching neighborhood residents and locals on staycations to international tourists and older couples enjoying the city for the weekend.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 June 2026
-
Sowah enjoying life in the Bay Mielah Sowah is a long way from her hometown of Brisbane, Australia.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Somebody lucked out on a pick-six — picking six consecutive winners in a row at the track.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
-
Göransson had a tough time picking a favorite, too.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Suzuki is a young beatnik of Greenwich Village, a moral, sharp-witted kid wanting a place where children can be taken seriously, free to manage their own affairs.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
-
Plavsic — hailing from Urban Decay Cosmetics — launched Ilia in 2011, wanting to fill the white space in contemporary beauty.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preferring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preferring. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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