INDEX:
1. to like someone or something better than others
2. to prefer to do one thing rather than another
3. when one thing is preferred to another
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ LIKE
↑ BETTER
↑ ENJOY
↑ CHOOSE
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1. to like someone or something better than others
▷ prefer /prɪˈfɜːʳ/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
▪ Which bread do you prefer, brown or white?
▪ ‘Which restaurant shall we go to?’ ‘I really don’t mind. Whichever one you prefer.’
much prefer somebody/something
like something much better
▪ She doesn’t like romantic fiction -- she much prefers detective stories.
▪ Brad Pitt? Oh no, I much prefer Russell Crowe!
prefer somebody/something to somebody/ something
▪ I’m beginning to like Japanese food. I certainly prefer rice to potatoes.
I’d prefer something
▪ Dave wants to go to New York again, but I’d prefer somewhere more exotic.
▷ like better /ˌlaɪk ˈbetəʳ/ [verb phrase not in progressive] especially spoken
to like one person or thing more than another one :
▪ Which do you like better, the red tie or the green one?
like better than
▪ I like our new teacher much better than the one we had before.
▪ There was nothing she liked better than being in the limelight in front of the press and TV cameras.
▷ have a preference /hæv ə ˈpref ə rəns/ [verb phrase not in progressive] formal
to prefer something - use this especially when you are discussing which one of several things should be chosen :
▪ We could eat Chinese, Indian, or Italian. Do you have any preference?
have a preference for
▪ The new leader has a preference for people who come from the same area of the country as he does.
have no strong/particular preference
you don’t prefer any of them more than the others
▪ I really have no particular preference -- you choose.
express a preference
say that you prefer one rather than others
▪ When I asked her about where she wanted the meeting to be held she didn’t express any particular preference.
▷ favour British /favor American /ˈfeɪvəʳ/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
if a person or group in a position of authority or influence favours something such as a plan, idea, or system, they think it is better than the others :
▪ President Bush was known to favor the use of military force.
▪ In the 1930s the Bauhaus school tended to favour a technological approach to art.
▷ give me somebody/something any day! /ˌgɪv miː somebody/something ˈeni deɪ/ spoken informal
used when you want to say that you strongly prefer one type of thing :
▪ I can’t stand English men -- they’re so boring. Give me an Italian any day!
▪ Forget all your salad and beans and organic food -- give me a thick juicy steak any day!
2. to prefer to do one thing rather than another
▷ prefer /prɪˈfɜːʳ/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
if someone prefers to do something, they like doing it better than something else :
prefer to do something
▪ French people usually prefer to buy goods that are made in France.
▪ Most of my friends take the bus to school, but I prefer to walk.
prefer doing something
▪ Mark likes lying on the beach, but I prefer visiting museums.
prefer doing something to doing something
▪ She seems to prefer watching soap operas to talking to me.
▷ would rather do something /wʊd ˌrɑːðəʳ ˈduː something ǁ-ˈræ-/ [verb phrase] especially spoken
if you would rather do something, you want to do it more than another thing you could do instead, or more than what you are doing now :
▪ I’d rather wear my Reeboks if we’re going to be walking around all day.
would rather do something than do something
▪ A significant group of young men would rather go to jail than join the army.
would much rather do something
▪ ‘Do you want to stay for supper?’ ‘I’d much rather go home, if you don’t mind.’
would rather somebody did something
especially British
▪ I’d rather we went skiing this year instead of hiking.
▷ would prefer to do something /wʊd prɪˌfɜːʳ tə ˈduː something/ [verb phrase]
if you would prefer to do something, you want to do it more than another thing you could do instead, or more than what you are doing now :
▪ Any smart employer would prefer to hire an experienced worker over an unknown.
▪ We would both prefer to live in the north of England, but there aren’t many jobs there.
would prefer somebody to do something
▪ I’d prefer them to come next weekend rather than the one after.
▷ would sooner do something /wʊd ˌsuːnəʳ ˈduː something/ [verb phrase]
if you would sooner do something, you would very much prefer to do it especially instead of something else that you dislike or that is unpleasant :
▪ Marry him? I’d sooner die!
▪ He’s the kind of person who’d sooner help people than make money out of them.
3. when one thing is preferred to another
▷ preferably /ˈpref ə rəbli/ [adverb]
▪ Come early in the week -- on Monday preferably.
▪ We’re looking for well-qualified young people, preferably with good computer skills.
▪ ‘And you need to get a can of beans.’ ‘Black or red?’ ‘Whichever they have. Preferably black.’
▷ preferable /ˈpref ə rəb ə l/ [adjective] formal
a choice, result, situation etc that is preferable is one that you would prefer :
▪ So we’re agreed. Our preferable course of action is to do nothing until the report is published.
▪ The most preferable arrangement would be for us to pay very low interest over a long period of time.
preferable to
▪ As far as I’m concerned anything would be preferable to staying here alone.
▷ preferred /prɪˈfɜːʳd/ [adjective only before noun] formal
preferred method/option/course of action etc
the method, choice etc that you would prefer when there are several to choose from :
▪ The preferred method was to cut the grass early in the morning when it was still wet.
▪ Yes, that would be my preferred course of action.