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
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
-
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
-
Across the world, more travelers are choosing destinations based on nightlife options, and cities are responding with more after-dark activities.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Dec. 2025
-
Unrestricted funding is rare from major donors and foundations, with many choosing to support very specific projects over specific timeframes.—
Thalia Beaty,
Fortune,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
For Club name DuPont, analysts like the company's strategy of favoring its healthcare and water businesses but don't see enough total growth to give it a buy.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
15 June 2026
-
Before that, Bold America spent another total $439,921 on ads favoring Hernandez.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
The beauty lies in the curation process itself, carefully selecting each building, figurine, and accessory to craft your own version of an idealized Christmas town.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
11 Dec. 2025
-
The process of selecting those teams was far from easy.—
Quentin Corpuel,
Kansas City Star,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Bravo may be enjoying a rush while others grapple more directly with current conditions.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
10 June 2026
-
And while Pfeufer’s quote is not yet prophecy — the Knicks are up 2-1 over the San Antonio Spurs and still have to win two games for the NBA championship — the fan is enjoying his newfound notoriety — and the fact that his parents are impressed.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
One way to avoid picking the bad apples is by having an intentional vetting process.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
14 June 2026
-
Another logistic that should be considered ahead of time is picking the route.—
Judy Koutsky,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Haiti on Tuesday wanting to deliver a message of reassurance to the Haitian people amid surging gang violence, rising displacement and deepening hunger.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
17 June 2026
-
Or have been found wanting in some way.—
Jen Chaney,
Vulture,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preferring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preferring. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
