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Meaning of prefer in English:

prefer

Pronunciation /prɪˈfəː/

See synonyms for prefer

Translate prefer into Spanish

verbprefers, preferring, preferred

[with object]

  • 1Like (one thing or person) better than another or others; tend to choose.

    ‘I prefer Venice to Rome’
    • ‘I would prefer to discuss the matter in private’
    • ‘Val would presumably prefer that you didn't get arrested’
    • ‘People have become lazy, preferring their favourite programmes to films.’
    • ‘Couples preferring a civil ceremony are increasingly choosing an approved location such as a hotel or stately home with a licence rather than a register office.’
    • ‘Many people simply prefer the star and will choose it over the other symbols.’
    • ‘So all the government is doing in this case is enforcing what you would prefer people choose to do on their own.’
    • ‘He confesses to another, personal reason for preferring the incumbent.’
    • ‘Mimi had three cats and I'm certain she preferred them to most people.’
    • ‘When and if our country becomes a republic it will be in the form and with the structures preferred by the people.’
    • ‘If people would prefer it in a different format, just drop me a line.’
    • ‘I think people prefer a resident landlord as opposed to an absentee one.’
    • ‘I much prefer it when other people tell me that than the other way around.’
    • ‘It will ask people if they prefer this new system or the current one of an executive of councillors being in charge.’
    • ‘If patients would prefer a hot breakfast selection they need only inform their ward hostess.’
    • ‘The company would prefer a single supplier who could provide it with chips and boards for the full range of computers.’
    • ‘I've always preferred starters to a sweet, unless I fancy all three which isn't often.’
    • ‘The branches, however, proved to prefer approaches that were considerably more conventional.’
    like better, would rather, would rather have, would sooner, would sooner have, favour, be more partial to, incline towards, lean towards, think preferable
    View synonyms

  • 2formal Submit (a charge or a piece of information) for consideration.

    ‘the police will prefer charges’
    • ‘The person in question was a solicitor against whom the Law Society preferred three charges of misconduct.’
    • ‘The Prosecutor, before preferring the charges against the accused, looks for and gathers the evidence.’
    • ‘Jane has been the victim of an unlawful drugs raid although no charges were preferred after it.’
    • ‘They look at the stupid action on the part of the police, in preferring those charges against Mr Ardern, and ask just what planet these people are on.’
    • ‘A prosecutor has considerable discretion as to what charges he prefers and the trial takes place on those charges.’
    • ‘Trumped-up civil charges were preferred against several prominent ministers.’
    • ‘Following a lengthy hearing the appellant was committed for trial and the present indictment was preferred.’
    bring, press, file, lodge, tender, present, place, lay, submit, put forward, proffer, offer, propose
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  • 3archaic Promote or advance (someone) to a prestigious position.

    • ‘he was eventually preferred to the bishopric of Durham’
    promote, upgrade, advance, raise, move up, elevate, aggrandize
    View synonyms

Origin

Late Middle English from Old French preferer, from Latin praeferre, from prae ‘before’ + ferre ‘to bear, carry’.