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
Peter Bart, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
The Ravens have resisted playing the game for so long, preferring to treat continuity as infrastructure rather than sentiment.
—Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
That album steered far clear of folkloric kitsch, preferring dissonant frequencies and minimalist arrangements.
—Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026
The Freedom Caucus had opposed Kevin McCarthy, preferring a more reliable conservative.
—Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
McVay also isn’t one to make snap decisions in the aftermath of a game, preferring a day or two to consult with his assistants.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 30 Dec. 2025
Last season’s Celtics forced the fourth-fewest turnovers and ranked 24th in opponent turnover rate, preferring to defend conservatively and limit free-throw attempts.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
The overtures backfired, with Sheridan preferring a less corporate approach.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
But most reports refer to Booker preferring his whiskey around six to seven years old, which is the age that his namesake brand is bottled at to this day.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
No longer a complete unknown wrapped in the Bob Dylan mystique, Chalamet has energized a balky awards circuit whose stars and filmmakers years ago had retreated from the rigors of self-promotion, with some still preferring to avoid it.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
The Ravens have resisted playing the game for so long, preferring to treat continuity as infrastructure rather than sentiment.
—Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
That album steered far clear of folkloric kitsch, preferring dissonant frequencies and minimalist arrangements.
—Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026
The Freedom Caucus had opposed Kevin McCarthy, preferring a more reliable conservative.
—Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
McVay also isn’t one to make snap decisions in the aftermath of a game, preferring a day or two to consult with his assistants.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 30 Dec. 2025
Last season’s Celtics forced the fourth-fewest turnovers and ranked 24th in opponent turnover rate, preferring to defend conservatively and limit free-throw attempts.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
The overtures backfired, with Sheridan preferring a less corporate approach.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
But most reports refer to Booker preferring his whiskey around six to seven years old, which is the age that his namesake brand is bottled at to this day.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 2 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preferring
Verb
-
Tucker, who cost the Cubs another promising young hitter, Cam Smith, plus infielder Isaac Paredes and right-hander Hayden Wesneski, almost certainly will be too expensive for the Cubs’ liking.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2026
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Her instincts were right, with Reese Witherspoon and more than 32,000 others liking her Instagram post, which shared a link to her essay.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s 2026 Kitchen Trends Report, homeowners are increasingly choosing appliances that create a better environment for cooking and gathering.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
-
This path begins with choosing leaders who will put principle over politics and ideology, with a promise to focus on the middle class as the center of every policy.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The team’s new polymer layer resists mixing with electrolyte solvents, instead favoring decomposition of salt anions.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Sleek rooms and suites are thoughtfully designed for efficiency and comfort, favoring clean lines and crisp linens.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While Hilton has been involved in various ways with the festival, for the past several years the person selecting the musicals being read has been Michael Fling, who began as an artistic associate at Goodspeed in 2019 and became its associate artistic director in 2024.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
12 Jan. 2026
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When selecting the perfect color for her look, Domingo insisted that green was the one.—
Mecca Pryor,
Essence,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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He’s been spotted in the Bay Area, living his life, presumably enjoying the microclimates and the ability to put the pedal to the metal on Tasman Drive.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Guests then dined at the base of the pyramids before enjoying an afterparty and dessert in another area.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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From the costume-picking process to the crazy disguises stars must wear off camera, keep scrolling for the wildest rules contestants on The Masked Singer must follow.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
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Other photos show them on the sand with their arms around each other and sharing a kiss, with Tatum picking her up and holding her over his head at one point.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But on the evidence of his seven Premier League appearances so far for Forest — six of which have been as a substitute — there is little prospect of City wanting to utilise that clause.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Instead of looking for rising high school stars such as Hill to fill their lineups, college coaches are dipping into the portal to fill instant needs, which can have consequences for high school seniors wanting to play on the next level, Woods said.—
Rick Cantu,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preferring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preferring. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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