preferring

VERB

favor; single out

Synonyms

STRONGEST

adopt choose go for pick promote put select suggest wish

STRONG

advance aggrandize cull desire elect elevate fancy finger incline mark place pose present proposition propound raise tag take tap upgrade

WEAK

be partial to be turned on to fix upon like better opt for optate propone put forward would rather would sooner

Antonyms

STRONGEST

dislike hate refuse reject

STRONG

decrease depress disgrace drop ignore lessen lose lower stop withhold

WEAK

spurn

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“We were surprised to find ourselves preferring Helga Monson. Remember her name. It will soon be a famous one,” Vérots wrote in French.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2026

He found it difficult to paint people he didn't know, preferring studies of friends and family.

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026

He has resisted the iTunes style of selling songs individually, preferring to preserve sales of complete albums.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026

For years, the U.S. refrained from investigating sitting politicians in its fight against drug trafficking, preferring to target cartel leaders.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

Cleopatra politely refused his offer, preferring not to go ashore.

From "Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen" by Susan Blackaby