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
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has decided to shelve, for now, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for a pardon in his graft trial, preferring to press the parties to reach an agreement that would terminate the case consensually, his office announced.
—Galit Altstein, Bloomberg, 26 Apr. 2026
Guests preferring a gentler approach can swap hikes for Zodiac tours along the coast, a great way to spot rare birds and hidden coves.
—David Morris, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2026
The flip phone’s tiny version of Google Maps is hard to use, and some people were trying not to use it all, preferring to navigate the city as their parents and grandparents once did, going only by their memory and directions from strangers.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
But the House has historically been reluctant to serve as the final arbiter of a lawmaker’s career, preferring to give that final say to the voters.
—Kevin Freking, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
The most severe form of punishment is expulsion, but the House has historically been reluctant to serve as the final arbiter of a lawmaker’s career, preferring to give that final say to the voters.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
When global volatility calls for better domestic execution, Washington often falls into complacency, preferring talk over action.
—Dan Romito, The Washington Examiner, 19 Apr. 2026
This is a more traditional approach, with a manager preferring one reliever in the seventh inning, another in the eighth, and a closer (when rested) in the ninth.
—Greg Jewett, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
In the house reef, there’s snorkelling and paddleboarding; guests preferring deep-sea action can request private yacht excursions or big-game fishing sessions.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has decided to shelve, for now, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for a pardon in his graft trial, preferring to press the parties to reach an agreement that would terminate the case consensually, his office announced.
—Galit Altstein, Bloomberg, 26 Apr. 2026
Guests preferring a gentler approach can swap hikes for Zodiac tours along the coast, a great way to spot rare birds and hidden coves.
—David Morris, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2026
The flip phone’s tiny version of Google Maps is hard to use, and some people were trying not to use it all, preferring to navigate the city as their parents and grandparents once did, going only by their memory and directions from strangers.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
But the House has historically been reluctant to serve as the final arbiter of a lawmaker’s career, preferring to give that final say to the voters.
—Kevin Freking, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
The most severe form of punishment is expulsion, but the House has historically been reluctant to serve as the final arbiter of a lawmaker’s career, preferring to give that final say to the voters.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
When global volatility calls for better domestic execution, Washington often falls into complacency, preferring talk over action.
—Dan Romito, The Washington Examiner, 19 Apr. 2026
This is a more traditional approach, with a manager preferring one reliever in the seventh inning, another in the eighth, and a closer (when rested) in the ninth.
—Greg Jewett, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preferring
Verb
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After six brutal years of struggling to stay afloat, movie theater owners and operators arrived in Las Vegas for CinemaCon finally liking their odds of survival.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2026
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Henley has struggled on approach since the American Express, which is the only thing holding me back from really liking him this week.—
Dennis Esser,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Local water is also more reliable, even though predicting rain in the Mediterranean climate of Southern California is about as easy as choosing a winning Super Lotto number.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
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The Dolphins doubled down on Red Raiders prospects after, earlier Friday, choosing Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez with their lone second-round pick.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The divide in the US is mostly political, the poll showed, with Democrats still overwhelmingly favoring renewables, while Democrats are more open to nuclear, natural gas, and oil.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
27 Apr. 2026
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Fortunately, the styles and silhouettes that were popular in the early 2000s (the era trendsetters are favoring) are particularly well-suited for travel thanks to their breathability and versatile nature.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After selecting Cooper and Ponds, the Jets became the fourth team in the modern era to select multiple Indiana players in the same draft [49ers, Giants, and Bears].—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
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With tight end believed to be the next biggest need on their roster, selecting Raridon in the third round makes sense for the Patriots after the rest of the league went on a run at the position in the second and third rounds.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Sudarma hopes that guests will plan a day and stay, enjoying multiple meals and lots of entertainment, from Asian sports cars to kids’ hip hop dance classes (free).—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
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The three-time Grammy winner was recently spotted enjoying a dinner date in Los Angeles with Geese frontman Cameron Winter on April 15.—
Ilana Kaplan,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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To get there, a city needs a gigantic outdoor footprint, real tourism appeal, public transit, adequate hotel inventory, and a backdrop that makes people want to show up even if their team is picking 24th and taking an offensive lineman.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
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San Francisco kicked off its Saturday selections by picking Oklahoma defensive tackle Gracen Halton with the 107th overall pick.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The village wanting to put its electrical and cable lines underground brought the total to a hefty $90 million.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
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In the report’s telling, by September 2028, investors have collectively stopped wanting to buy American debt at prevailing yields.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preferring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preferring. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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