Word family noun preference adjective preferable preferential verb prefer adverb preferably preferentially
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpreferpre‧fer /prɪˈfɜː $ -ˈfɜːr/ ●●● S2 W2 verb (preferred, preferring) [transitive] 1 PREFERto like someone or something more than someone or something else, so that you would choose it if you could → preference This type of owl prefers a desert habitat. She prefers her coffee black. the government’s preferred optionprefer somebody/something to somebody/something a child that prefers his imaginary world to reality Employees said they would prefer more flexible working hours.prefer to do something I prefer to wear clothes made of natural fibers. Or, if you prefer, you can email us.prefer doing something Chantal prefers travelling by train.prefer that We prefer that our teachers have a degree in early childhood education.RegisterIn everyday English, people often say they would rather do something instead of using prefer: I prefer to travel by train. → I’d rather travel by train.2 → I would prefer it if3 → prefer chargesGrammarPatterns with prefer• You prefer to do something: I prefer to read a book. ✗Don’t say: I prefer read a book.• You prefer doing something: We prefer going abroad for our vacation. ✗Don’t say: We prefer go abroad.• You say that you would prefer it if someone did something: We would prefer it if you didn’t tell anyone. ✗Don’t say: We would prefer it if you don’t tell anyone.Using the progressivePrefer is not used in the progressive in meaning 1. You say: I prefer the blue one. ✗Don’t say: I am preferring the blue one.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
prefer• "Which restaurant shall we go to?'' "I really don't mind. Whichever one you prefer.''• Gina could crawl in beside them or sleep on the sofa downstairs if she preferred.• You can ask to speak to a lesbian if you prefer.• A dedicated bread eater will usually prefer a dense, sour, small, moist, round pumpernickel to a light rye.• Which color do you prefer - blue or red?• Which bread do you prefer, brown or white?• She doesn't like romantic fiction -- she much prefers detective stories.• I'm beginning to like Japanese food. I certainly prefer rice to potatoes.• Brad Pitt? Oh no, I much prefer Russell Crowe!• Dave wants to go to New York again, but I'd prefer somewhere more exotic.• If invested instead in bonds or preferred stock, that same dollar would be worth less than $ 1,000.• She preferred the sizzling animosity between them to this ... this awkwardness.• French people usually prefer to buy goods that are made in France.• He would prefer to help boost poor working families' incomes through tax breaks.• Cops and gangsters alike prefer to see pachinko remain uneasily in limbo.• Most of my friends take the bus to school, but I prefer to walk.• When I wrote to congratulate him on the latter, he telephoned, which he apparently preferred to writing.• Mark likes lying on the beach, but I prefer visiting museums.• She seems to prefer watching soap operas to talking to me.prefer that• Clearly, most men would prefer that battles pass them by completely.• I personally would have preferred that decision to already have been taken.• We prefer that famed political motto of the Reagan administration: Mistakes were made.• She would have preferred that none of this take place..• I should prefer that the appointments are not given to the governors of the banks of individual member states.• Some companies prefer that their top executives have specialized backgrounds and hire individuals who are managers in other organizations.• Be decided from the outset - they prefer that, then they know what they can expect from you.• I would however prefer that you got as much advice as possible from the books first.Origin prefer (1300-1400) French préférer, from Latin praeferre “to put in front, prefer” 