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
James Perkins Mastromarino,
NPR,
24 June 2026
Bergvall has not shown a similar passing arsenal, preferring short exchanges to circulate possession and relying more on his dribbling.
—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Couto, in his opening address, pushed back on the language of disruption or reset, preferring a more precise term for what APOS captured.
—
Lin Ying-Hsuan,
Variety,
19 June 2026
Flatheads aren’t built for extended chases like their streamlined cousins, preferring instead to dart out from hiding and devour unwary prey.
—
Keith Sutton,
Outdoor Life,
18 June 2026
But Barclays is staying selective in the sector, preferring Endeavour Mining and Hochschild as both stocks trade on cheaper multiples than Fresnillo , which the analysts say is more fully valued.
—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
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
Verb
His original character designer, who wasn't involved in the new game, admitted to preferring the Super Mario Galaxy Movie version of Fox to this remake's.
—
James Perkins Mastromarino,
NPR,
24 June 2026
Bergvall has not shown a similar passing arsenal, preferring short exchanges to circulate possession and relying more on his dribbling.
—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Couto, in his opening address, pushed back on the language of disruption or reset, preferring a more precise term for what APOS captured.
—
Lin Ying-Hsuan,
Variety,
19 June 2026
Flatheads aren’t built for extended chases like their streamlined cousins, preferring instead to dart out from hiding and devour unwary prey.
—
Keith Sutton,
Outdoor Life,
18 June 2026
But Barclays is staying selective in the sector, preferring Endeavour Mining and Hochschild as both stocks trade on cheaper multiples than Fresnillo , which the analysts say is more fully valued.
—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preferring
Verb
-
At issue today is whether or not liking social media posts is an angerable offence on a reality television program.
-
The double-decker style gives you two stories to personalize to your liking whether a downstairs café and upstairs studio apartment or a guesthouse for visitors.
Verb
-
McCarthy doesn’t paint Alex and Ethan as perfect allies or perfect victims, instead choosing to explore the shortcomings in their friendship through mostly gender-neutral growing pains.
-
Langley has recruited women to open for every date, choosing Gabriella Rose, Kaitlin Butts, Avery Anna, Laci Kaye Booth, and Madeline Edwards for the tour, which kicked off in May and concludes this August in, appropriately, Texas.
Verb
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Large enterprise buyers have typically been suspicious of horizontal platforms that promise to do everything, favoring integrations that slot neatly into existing systems.
-
How that is playing out in terms of stylistic difference will have to be weighed by bootleg-favoring Dylanologists who are more attuned to the subtleties of band interplay.
Verb
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Tossing a Tide pod inside your washing machine, selecting your preferred wash cycle, and pressing start sounds simple enough.
-
Leaders often devote significant attention to selecting the right platforms, tools, and vendors while overlooking the learning systems necessary to support adoption, experimentation, knowledge sharing, and workforce capability development.
Verb
-
Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images As Micron customers try and adjust to a new reality of constantly rising memory prices, investors in the company are enjoying historic profit margins.
-
After a morning of spotty showers, the Twin Cities is enjoying sunshine, a nice breeze and highs in the mid-70s Wednesday.
Verb
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Its name comes from the fact that the fruit usually ripens and is ready for picking around this time of year.
-
Callihan had trouble picking it up, allowing McCarthy to race around the bases and beat the relay throw home.
Verb
-
There’s a lot about wanting to go back in time and change other things in my life.
-
Lyles has not given a reason for her resignation beyond wanting to spend more time with her family.
Cite this Entry
“Preferring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preferring. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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