prefer

(prĭ-fûr')
tr.v., -ferred, -fer·ring, -fers.

1. To choose or be in the habit of choosing as more desirable or as having more value: prefers coffee to tea.
2. Law.
   1. To give priority or precedence to (a creditor).
   2. To file, prosecute, or offer for consideration or resolution before a magistrate, court, or other legal authority: preferred the suit in a higher court.
3. Archaic. To recommend for advancement or appointment; promote.

[Middle English preferren, from Old French preferer, from Latin praeferre : prae-, pre- + ferre, to carry.]

preferrer pre·fer'rer n.

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1. The inflected forms of the verb are preferred, preferring, but other derivatives have a single -r- (preferable, preferably, preference, preferential, preferment).

2. When the subject of prefer is the same as that of a following subordinate verb, the normal construction is with a to-infinitive or with a verbal noun: I prefer to stand or I prefer standing. When the following verb is in the negative, the to-infinitive is the usual option:

I prefer not to live and work in the same room—C. K. Stead, 1986.

When a second person or thing intervenes as subject of the subordinate verb, the normal construction in British English is with noun (or pronoun) + to-infinitive: I'd prefer you to stay. An alternative is that + clause, which is the more usual choice in American English: I'd prefer that you stay. (A further, less formal, alternative is the type I'd prefer it if you stayed.)

3. When prefer is followed by a pair of alternatives, these are separated by to: I prefer whisky to brandy / I prefer swimming to jogging. Clearly in these cases a construction with a to-infinitive would lead to a clash of to's and is not possible: ☒ I prefer to swim to to jog, but an alternative is to use rather than: I prefer to swim rather than to jog (but not I prefer to swim than to jog).

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verb

To show partiality toward (someone): favor. Idioms: play favorites. See fair/unfair.

v

Definition: favor; single out
Antonyms: dislike, hate, reject, spurn

IN BRIEF: To like better.

I prefer liberty to chains of diamonds. — Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1690-1762)

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For a list of words related to prefer, see:

• Approval, Respect, and Recognition - prefer: (vb) like better, promote over others

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See words rhyming with "prefer."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Prefer.

Common misspelling(s) of preferring

• prefering

Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - foretrække, forfremme, fremsætte

idioms:

• preferred share    præferenceaktie

Nederlands (Dutch)
prefereren, verkiezen, aanbevelen

Français (French)
v. tr. - préférer, aimer mieux, (Jur) porter (plainte), engager (des poursuites contre), élever, promouvoir

idioms:

• preferred share    (GB, Fin) action privilégiée

Deutsch (German)
v. - vorziehen, befördern

idioms:

• preferred share    Vorzugsaktie

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - προτιμώ, επιλέγω, προκρίνω, προάγω, προβιβάζω, υποβάλλω, καταθέτω (μήνυση κ.λπ.)

idioms:

• preferred share    προνομιούχος μετοχή

Italiano (Italian)
preferire, (leg.) avanzare, (leg.) presentare, (leg.) sporgere, innalzare, promuovere, elevare

idioms:

• preferred share    azione privilegiata

Português (Portuguese)
v. - preferir

idioms:

• preferred share    ação preferencial

Русский (Russian)
предпочитать

idioms:

• preferred share    привилегированная акция

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - preferir

idioms:

• preferred share    acciones preferentes

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - föredra, lägga fram, befordra

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
宁可, 宁愿, 提出, 更喜欢, 提升, 提拔

idioms:

• preferred share    优先股

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 寧可, 寧願, 提出, 更喜歡, 提升, 提拔

idioms:

• preferred share    優先股

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - ~을 좋아하다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 好む, 選ぶ, 提出する, 提起する

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يفضل, يرقي, يرفع, يقدم شكوى‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮העדיף, ביכר, קידם בתפקיד, מינה, הגיש, הביא לפני‬

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