ˈfāvər(ə)bəl, -vrəb- adjective
Etymology: Middle English favourable, favorable, from Middle French favorable, from Latin favorabilis popular, pleasing, from favor + -abilis -able — more at favor
1.
a. : disposed to favor : favoring , approving, partial
taking a favorable attitude toward our request
: expressing approval : commendatory
a favorable recommendation
a favorable grade on an exam
also : giving a result that is in one's favor
a favorable comparison
b. obsolete : gracious , obliging
c. : granting or obliging in what is desired : affirmative
gave a favorable answer to our request
2. : winning approval : pleasing , agreeable
made a favorable impression on his future colleagues
3.
a. : tending to promote or facilitate : advantageous
a favorable wind blew us into port without a mishap
a business climate favorable to almost any enterprise
b. : having the value of exports exceed that of imports
a favorable balance of trade
4.
a. : indicative of a successful outcome : affording cheer or reason for optimism : boding well
favorable weather for our yacht trip
favorable conditions for opening a new business
b. : marked by success : turning out in the way desired or hoped
a favorable demonstration of a new invention
made a favorable adjustment to the new conditions of her life
Synonyms:
benign , auspicious , propitious : favorable describes persons, events, or conditions whose disposition or effect is kindly, helpful, advantageous, or encouraging and likely to presage or facilitate a happy outcome
a hot dry summer, favorable to contemplative life out of doors — Joseph Conrad
they won't take a chance of battle unless they can feel sure of most favorable conditions — Alexander Forbes
my position in reference to them, being paternal and protective, was favorable to the growth of friendly sentiments — Nathaniel Hawthorne
benign may apply to persons or agencies that have power or position to harm, hinder, or check but whose disposition appears kindly and encouraging
that benign friend who had previously comforted him in his misery — Anthony Trollope
always benign, there was not a grain of ill will anywhere in him — A.N.Whitehead
the benign and fatherly old man put his arm round her waist — Arnold Bennett
auspicious describes events or conditions pointing toward good or favorable outcomes or developments
court astrologers pronounced March 2, 1949, an auspicious date for the coronation — Current Biography
at least pay the boy then; I have no pice with me, and he brought auspicious news — Rudyard Kipling
propitious describes, perhaps more mildly so than auspicious , events or conditions that are favorable. propitious may describe that which lacks any discouraging indication without having the optimistic ring of auspicious
although it was already late in the autumn, the weather was propitious — J.L.Motley
after so propitious an opening it seemed that acerbities might be quelled, rivalries mitigated — S.H.Adams