favor

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A helpful or kind act that you do for someone, usually without payment.

   Grammar: Countable; you do or ask for a favor: could you do me a favor?

   Patterns

   • do someone a favor
   • ask someone a favor
   • return a favor

   Could you do me a favor and pick up the kids?

   She asked a favor of her old professor.

   I owe you one for that favor.

2. 2noununcountable

   Approval or support that someone shows toward a person or idea.

   Grammar: Uncountable and often used with in or out of: in favor of the plan.

   Patterns

   • in favor of something
   • find favor with someone
   • fall out of favor

   The proposal quickly found favor with the board.

   Most voters are in favor of the new bridge.

   That singer fell out of favor after the scandal.

3. 3verbtransitive

   To prefer or support one option, person or outcome over another.

   Grammar: Takes an object: favor the second plan.

   Patterns

   • favor something
   • favor someone over someone

   The committee favors a smaller budget.

   Many teachers favor short quizzes over long exams.

   The wind favored the sailors during the race.

4. 4verbtransitive

   To treat someone with unfair preference or extra kindness.

   Grammar: Often passive when someone is shown preference: she felt less favored.

   Patterns

   • favor someone

   Parents should not favor one child over another.

   The rule unfairly favors large companies.

   He was always favored by the manager.

Word forms

Common combinations

do someone a favor

Would you do me a favor and close the window?

in favor of

I am in favor of starting the meeting early.

return the favor

Thanks for helping; I'll return the favor someday.

curry favor

He tried to curry favor with the boss by staying late.

ask a favor

May I ask a favor of you?

party favor

Each guest received a small party favor.

Synonyms and how they differ

kindness

Kindness is a general quality, while a favor is one specific helpful act done for a person.

support

Support is stronger and more active than favor, which can be a mere preference.

prefer

Prefer is about your own choice, whereas favor often means the result or rule leans one way.

approval

Approval says someone agrees, while favor suggests liking or goodwill.

Opposites

Word family

favorite adjective

preferred above others

favorable adjective

positive, or helpful

favoritism noun

unfair preference for one person

unfavorable adjective

negative or not helpful

Commonly confused: favor or favour? favor or flavor?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “favor”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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