Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Prefer
Pre-fer′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Preferred
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Preferring
.] 1.
To carry or bring (something) forward, or before one; hence, to bring for consideration, acceptance, judgment, etc.; to offer; to present; to proffer; to address; – said especially of a request, prayer, petition, claim, charge, etc.
He spake, and to her hand
preferred
the bowl. Pope.
Presently
prefer
his suit to Cæsar. Shakespeare
Three tongues
prefer
strange orisons on high. Byron.
2.
To go before, or be before, in estimation; to outrank; to surpass.
[Obs.]
“Though maidenhood prefer bigamy.” Chaucer.
3.
To cause to go before; hence, to advance before others, as to an office or dignity; to raise; to exalt; to promote;
as, to
. prefer
an officer to the rank of generalI would
prefer
him to a better place. Shakespeare
4.
To set above or before something else in estimation, favor, or liking; to regard or honor before another; to hold in greater favor; to choose rather; – often followed by to, before, or above.
If I
prefer
not Jerusalem above my chief joy. Ps. cxxxvii. 6.
Preferred
an infamous peace before a most just war. Knolles.
Preferred stock
, stock which takes a dividend before other capital stock; – called also
preference stock
and preferential stock
.
Syn. – To choose; elect. See
Choose
. Webster 1828 Edition
Prefer
PREFER'
,Verb.
T.
1.
Literally, to bear or carry in advance, in the mind, affections or choice; hence, to regard more than another; to honor or esteem above another.It is sometimes followed by above, before, or to.
If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. Ps.137.
He that cometh after me, is preferred before me. John 1.
2.
To advance, as to an office or dignity; to raise; to exalt; as, to prefer one to a bishopric; to prefer an officer to the rank of general.3.
To offer; to present; to exhibit; usually with solemnity, or to a public body. It is our privilege to enjoy the right of preferring petitions to rulers for redress of wrongs. My vows and prayers to thee preferred.
Prefer a bill against all kings and parliaments since the conquest.
4.
To offer or present ceremoniously, or in ordinary familiar language. He spake, and to her hand preferr'd the bowl.
[This is allowable, at least in poetry, though not usual.]
Definition 2024
prefer
prefer
English
Alternative forms
- præfer [16th-17th c.]
- preferre [14th-17th c.]
Verb
prefer (third-person singular simple present prefers, present participle preferring, simple past and past participle preferred)
- (transitive, now dated) To advance, promote (someone). [from 14thc.]
- 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, II.3.2:
- Tiberius preferred many to honours in his time, because they were famous whoremasters and sturdy drinkers […].
- 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, II.3.2:
- (transitive) To be in the habit of choosing something rather than something else; to favor; to like better. [from 14thc.]
- I prefer tea to coffee.
- 1907, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, “chapter VIII”, in The Younger Set (Project Gutenberg; EBook #14852), New York, N.Y.: A. L. Burt Company, published 1 February 2005 (Project Gutenberg version), OCLC 4241346:
- "My tastes," he said, still smiling, "incline me to the garishly sunlit side of this planet." And, to tease her and arouse her to combat: "I prefer a farandole to a nocturne; I'd rather have a painting than an etching; Mr. Whistler bores me with his monochromatic mud; I don't like dull colours, dull sounds, dull intellects; […]."
- (transitive) To present or submit (something) to an authority (now usually in "to prefer charges"). [from 16thc.]
- (obsolete, transitive) To put forward for acceptance; to introduce, recommend (to). [16th-19thc.]
- 1630, John Smith, True Travels, in Kupperman 1988, p.36:
- one Master David Hume, who making some use of his purse, gave him Letters to his friends in Scotland to preferre him to King James.
- 1817, Walter Scott, Rob Roy, XVII:
- Such were the arguments which my will boldly preferred to my conscience, as coin which ought to be current, and which conscience, like a grumbling shopkeeper, was contented to accept […].
- 1630, John Smith, True Travels, in Kupperman 1988, p.36:
Usage notes
- The verb can be used in three different forms:
- prefer + noun + to (or over) + noun. Example: I prefer coffee to tea.
- prefer + gerund + to (or over) + gerund. Example: I prefer skiing to swimming.
- prefer + full infinitive + rather than + bare infinitive. Example: I prefer to eat fish rather than (eat) meat.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Derived terms
Translations
to favor
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