prefer

A2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US [pɹɪˈfɝ] UK [pɹɪˈfɜː] See IPA manual

Freq #1625

Meanings

1

verb
To like one thing or person more than another.

I prefer tea to coffee.
2

verb
To choose one option over another.

She would prefer to walk rather than take the bus.
3

verb
To formally bring forward an accusation against someone.

The police decided to prefer charges against the suspect.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to like one thing or person... favor

2 verb · to choose one option over... choose opt

Word family

Forms preferredpreferringprefers

Derived forms preferabilityprefereepreferist

Related forms nonpreferredpreferable preferencepreferendumpreferentialprefererprefermentpreferrablepreferrerprelateunpreferred

Appears in

Proverbs (1)

See all

Gentlemen prefer blondes

Simplified etymology

Prefer comes from Latin praeferre, formed from prae, “before,” and ferre, “to carry.” The Latin verb already included the sense “make one’s first choice.”

Etymology

From Middle English preferren, from Anglo-Norman preferer, from Latin praeferō. Displaced native Old English foresettan and foreberan. Doublet of prelate. See also infer, relate and refer, delate and defer, as well as collate and confer among others.

*bʰer- Proto-Indo-European preferren Middle English preferer xno praeferō Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# prefer

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** [pɹɪˈfɝ]
**IPA (UK):** [pɹɪˈfɜː]
**Frequency rank:** 1625

## Meanings
1. To like one thing or person more than another.
2. To choose one option over another.
3. To formally bring forward an accusation against someone.

## Examples
- I prefer tea to coffee.
- She would prefer to walk rather than take the bus.
- The police decided to prefer charges against the suspect.

## Derived Forms
- preferability
- preferee
- preferist

## Related Forms
- nonpreferred
- preferable
- preference
- preferendum
- preferential
- preferer
- preferment
- preferrable
- preferrer
- prelate
- unpreferred

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *bʰer-
- Root: preferren
- Root: preferer
- Root: praeferō

## Etymology
From Middle English preferren, from Anglo-Norman preferer, from Latin praeferō. Displaced native Old English foresettan and foreberan. Doublet of prelate. See also infer, relate and refer, delate and defer, as well as collate and confer among others.

## AI Etymology
Prefer comes from Middle English preferren, from Anglo-Norman preferer, from Latin praeferō. Displaced native Old English foresettan and foreberan. Doublet of prelate. See also infer, relate and refer, delate and defer, as well as collate and confer among others. In present-day English it covers to like one thing or person more than another, to choose one option over another, and to formally bring forward an accusation against someone. The wider family includes derived forms such as preferability, preferee, preferist and related forms such as nonpreferred, preferable, preference, preferendum.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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