• Prefer

    Pronunciation

    • GenAm IPA: /pɹɪˈfɝ/
    • RP IPA: /pɹɪˈfɜː/
    • Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)

    Alternative forms

    Origin

    From Anglo-Norman, Middle French preferer, (French préférer), from Latin praeferō.

    Full definition of prefer

    Verb

    1. (transitive, now dated) To advance, promote (someone). from 14th c.
      • 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, II.3.2:Tiberius preferred many to honours in his time, because they were famous whoremasters and sturdy drinkers ....
    2. (transitive) To be in the habit of choosing something rather than something else; to favor; to like better. from 14th c.
      • I prefer tea to coffee.
      • 1907, w, The Younger Set Chapter 8, “ My tastes,” he said, still smiling, “ incline me to the garishly sunlit side of this planet.” And, to tease her and arouse her to combat : “ I prefer a farandole to a nocturne ; I'd rather have a painting than an etching ; … ”
    3. (transitive) To present or submit (something) to an authority (now usually in "to prefer charges"). from 16th c.
    4. (obsolete, transitive) To put forward for acceptance; to introduce, recommend (to). 16th-19th c.
      • 1630, John Smith, True Travels, in Kupperman 1988, p. 36:one Master David Hume, who making some use of his purse, gave him Letters to his friends in Scotland to preferre him to King James.
      • 1817, Walter Scott, Rob Roy, XVII:Such were the arguments which my will boldly preferred to my conscience, as coin which ought to be current, and which conscience, like a grumbling shopkeeper, was contented to accept ....

    Usage notes

    The verb can be used in three different forms:

    prefer + noun + to + noun. Example: I prefer coffee to tea.

    prefer + gerund + to + gerund. Example: I prefer skiing to swimming.

    prefer + full infinitive + rather than + bare infinitive. Example: I prefer to eat fish rather than (eat) meat.

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