preferpre‧fer /prɪˈfɜː $ -ˈfɜːr/ ●●● S2 W2 verb (past tense and past participle preferred, present participle preferring) [transitive] 
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.2I would prefer it if spoken a)used to say that you wish a situation was different: Sales have gone down, and obviously we’d prefer it if that didn’t happen. b)used when telling someone politely not to do something: I’d prefer it if you didn’t smoke in front of the children.3prefer charges British English law to make an official statement that someone has done something illegalGRAMMARPatterns 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.Grammar guide ‒ VERBS
WORD ORIGINprefer
Origin:
1300-1400 French préférer, from Latin praeferre ‘to put in front, prefer’VERB TABLE
prefer
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | prefer |
| he, she, it | prefers | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | preferred |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have preferred |
| he, she, it | has preferred | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had preferred |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will prefer |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have preferred |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- "Which restaurant shall we go to?'' "I really don't mind. Whichever one you prefer.''
- Brad Pitt? Oh no, I much prefer Russell Crowe!
- Dave wants to go to New York again, but I'd prefer somewhere more exotic.
- French people usually prefer to buy goods that are made in France.
- I'm beginning to like Japanese food. I certainly prefer rice to potatoes.
- Mark likes lying on the beach, but I prefer visiting museums.
- Most of my friends take the bus to school, but I prefer to walk.
- She doesn't like romantic fiction -- she much prefers detective stories.
- She seems to prefer watching soap operas to talking to me.
- Which bread do you prefer, brown or white?
- Which color do you prefer - blue or red?
- A dedicated bread eater will usually prefer a dense, sour, small, moist, round pumpernickel to a light rye.
- Cops and gangsters alike prefer to see pachinko remain uneasily in limbo.
- Gina could crawl in beside them or sleep on the sofa downstairs if she preferred.
- He would prefer to help boost poor working families' incomes through tax breaks.
- 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.
- When I wrote to congratulate him on the latter, he telephoned, which he apparently preferred to writing.
- You can ask to speak to a lesbian if you prefer.
Longman Language Activatorto like someone or something better than others
· 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.
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.
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.
British /favor American 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.
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!
to prefer to do one thing rather than another 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.
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.
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.
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.
when one thing is preferred to another · 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."
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.
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.
someone who spends a lot of time alone a solitary person spends a lot of time alone, especially because they like being alone: · She was a very solitary woman who didn't make friends easily.· Ed enjoys the solitary life of a rancher.
someone who prefers to do things alone and has few friends: · I had always been a loner, and I hated sharing an apartment when I went to college.· Joe is one of our best workers but he's too much of a loner to be a good leader.
someone who lives alone and avoids meeting other people: · Old Mr Grimes was a bad-tempered recluse, rarely seen in the town.· If you don't get out more, you're going to turn into a recluse.
someone who prefers their own company prefers to be alone rather than being with other people: · We asked him to come and eat with us, but he said he preferred his own company.
the one you like better than any others British /favorite American your favourite colour, food, teacher etc is the one you like more than all other colours, types of food etc: · My favourite colour is purple.· Who is your favorite singer?· Proceeds from the concert will go to the singer's favorite charities.
especially spoken to like something better than other things - use this especially when you are asking someone to choose or when you are choosing: · Which of these dresses do you like best?like something best: · I think I like the red one best.
formal the preferred method, plan etc is the one that people think is the best: · Steaming is the preferred method of cooking in Central Asia.· Seventeen percent of likely voters picked Stark as their preferred candidate.
the thing or person you like best and would choose first when you have several to choose from: · Frances was our first choice as a name for the baby.· Parents choosing schools for their children are rarely given their first choice.first choice for: · Atkins was the producers' first choice for the part of the maid.first choice of: · Twenty-six percent of the students said that teaching was their first choice of occupations.
when someone likes one thing or person rather than another: · There are definite regional preferences amongst our clients.· Oil or vinegar may be added for a more bland or sharp sauce, according to your preference.preference for: · Adams expressed her preference for New York, despite the fact that she's lived in California for six years.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Or, if you prefer, you can email us.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Yes, please, I’d love a coffee. My parents would like to meet you. Claudia would have liked to refuse (=wanted to refuse), but she didn’t dare.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
Or, if you prefer, you can email us.· I prefer a traditional approach.
formal (=the option someone likes best)· The new scheme appears to be the airport management’s preferred option.
Yes, please, I’d love a coffee. My parents would like to meet you. Claudia would have liked to refuse (=wanted to refuse), but she didn’t dare.· Slowly, they found a way to talk of the things Josh had always preferred to discuss with his father.· The oral route is always preferred.· Although much improved in version 4, I've always preferred HyperDisk.· But talented, independent thinkers always prefer to dress themselves.· I've always preferred a Precision to a Jazz because of the way that a Precision plays.· When hiring band members, Lawrence always preferred less talented musicians of good character over brilliant musicians of unstable character.· I always prefer players with some colour and individuality in their sound, usually with some distortion.· This was more or less true, for the simple reason that I have always preferred to be the one pursued.
· He refuses to wear the ceremonial purple of a bishop, preferring instead simple monastic robes.· Careful growers use none of these, preferring instead a grain diet with some chicken fat.· They preferred instead to use the designation related to the setting - neighbour, for example.· Playing singles, he never got far, preferring instead the strategic intricacies of doubles.· He prefers instead to hold meetings with his colleagues and to talk things through until a solution emerges.· But the sun seldom came sideways, preferring instead to strike straight down from above.· Suppose that a firm decided never to pay dividends, preferring instead to reward shareholders entirely through capital gains.
· And I'd much prefer it if that didn't happen.· He much preferred to limit the scope of his inquiry to the field of geometrics.· The elongated seats were much preferred.· Loi had announced that he much preferred sleeping on the raft even after he received his visa.· He would have much preferred the hysterical crying, the accusations of lack of love for her to that.· She would have much preferred to sit on the rock and drink in the scenery.· They had very much preferred it when she had been obsessed with Abba.· The artists get along well with their neighbors, who much prefer to have the sprawling place occupied, they said.
· Hence, dye-in-liquid experiments are often preferred.· Although not completely pain free, they often prefer this management to any type of surgical procedure.· Flight whirring; can rocket upwards with remarkable acceleration when startled, though often prefer to run.· These students often prefer the company of younger children.· Because of this, even those who could afford professional labour will often prefer to do it themselves.· Accordingly, business owners often prefer to take out most corporate profits as salary.· They often prefer to withhold sales rather than accept a lower price because of the consequences for other sales.· Couples that do decide to have a child often prefer boys.
· Governments caring sufficiently about redistribution might still prefer inefficient allocations with greater vertical equity.· He still preferred the pen to any other instrument.· By and large, people still prefer not to acknowledge these issues for which there is no comfortable rule.· And while men still prefer Dole to Clinton, that margin is not large enough to overcome the contrary female vote.· Many peasants, particularly the less well off, still preferred the priest as a source of education.· I still prefer my original state of having been deceived.· Now, he said, most acquisitive companies would still prefer to do friendly transactions.
NOUN· Some artists prefer the springy sensitivity of an open canvas whilst others prefer the hardness or smoothness of a board.· If some families favor expressing anger through icy silence, others prefer a more fiery style, whether through word or deed.· Some people like this, others prefer a more formal approach.· This rejection fear compounds the anxiety that others are preferred and also maybe preferable-the root of sibling rivalry.· Many drinkers enjoy the freshness and vitality of a young Chardonnay Champagne, while others prefer some maturity.· Instead, they mark citations as they are proofreading their text. Others prefer to mark citations as they type.· Some people are very independent; others prefer to do more together.· Some wore them full-length; others preferred to roll them in half before knotting them.
· By and large, people still prefer not to acknowledge these issues for which there is no comfortable rule.· Some people prefer tours, while others like to gallery hop unescorted and at their own pace.· Indeed, many people prefer to remove their shoes when being hypnotized, as they find this more comfortable.· Sometimes people prefer to use an Internet nickname or handle, which can be anything you like.· Some people prefer different line lengths.· The way people prefer to learn varies.· Many people seem to prefer that kind of anonymous system.
· I see little reason to prefer strains of lettuce, for instance, that are inherently poisonous to pests.· For all these reasons, engineers prefer to design a reasonably stiff building.· Repetition of words can create the same sort of chain as pronouns, and there are sometimes good reasons for preferring it.· Both men had reason to prefer the gloom, for one was a traitor and the other a spy.· So both have a reason of justice for preferring some other solution to the checkerboard one.· The reason I prefer the Methodist faith is because it has the simplest form.
VERB· Superficially it may seem reasonable to prefer a firmly-held end to a faint altruistic stirring which is easily dismissed.· Henry himself seemed to prefer IsabelIa, especially as she seemed willing to agree not to marry without his consent.· His secondary theme is Athens, which on the whole he seems to prefer.· Hannah had seemed to prefer firm holding to light touches.· He seemed to prefer to go travelling with his fellow students.· After all, Symington, like them, is a man who seems to prefer politicking about business to just doing business.· Fabien also, of course, but it was always me that she seemed to prefer - or so I liked to think.· He seemed to prefer it that way.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► prefer charges
- I'd prefer it if you would not insult my friends.
- I would prefer it if we had a bigger house, but we can't afford it.
WORD FAMILYadjectivepreferablepreferentialadverbpreferablypreferentiallynounpreferenceverbprefer
1to like someone or something more than someone or something else, so that you would choose it if you could: 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.2I would prefer it if spoken a)used to say that you wish a situation was different: Sales have gone down, and obviously we’d prefer it if that didn’t happen. b)used when telling someone politely not to do something: I’d prefer it if you didn’t smoke in front of the children.3prefer charges British English law to make an official statement that someone has done something illegalGRAMMARPatterns 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.Grammar guide ‒ VERBS