prefer

present (v1)

prefer

past (v2)

preferred

past participle (v3)

preferred

present participle

preferring

3rd person singular

prefers

1. 1.To be in the habit of choosing something rather than something else; to favor; to like better.

   • I'd prefer it if you didn't do it.
   • I'd prefer to stay home rather than drive/driving in the blizzard.
   • You don’t attack politicians because you prefer them; you attack them because you’re scared of them.

2. 2.To present or submit (something) to an authority (now usually in "to prefer charges").

   • I prefer not to talk about it.
   • I prefer rice to bread.
   • I prefer tea over coffee.

Overall

Common· #1770

By learning goal

Everyday conversation

Rare

General reading & writing

Common

Academic

Rare

Literature

Rare

Synonyms

• choose
• opt

Word family

• preference