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Meaning & use

favourites

noun·EverydayBritish

Last updated

UK/ˈfeɪ.vrɪts/
US/ˈfeɪ.vər.ɪts/

“favourites” is a form of “favourite”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. nounpluralBritish

    People or things that someone likes more than all the others of their kind.

    Grammar: Plural of favourite: these songs are my favourites.

    Patterns

    • one of someone's favourites
    • someone's all-time favourites

    These cookies are among my favourites.

    Which of your grandmother's recipes are your favourites?

    The band played their old favourites at the end of the show.

  2. nounpluralBritishsport

    Competitors or teams that are expected to win a race or contest.

    Grammar: Often used with a team or horse as the subject: the favourites were beaten.

    Patterns

    • the favourites to win something

    The home side are the favourites to win the cup.

    Both favourites lost in the first round.

    Bookmakers have made two horses joint favourites for the race.

  3. nounpluralcomputing

    Saved items in a browser or app, such as web pages, contacts or songs, that you can reach quickly.

    Grammar: Often a menu or list: add it to your favourites.

    Patterns

    • add something to favourites
    • open your favourites

    I added the recipe site to my favourites.

    Your favourites are shown at the top of the contact list.

    Tap the heart to save songs to favourites.

Common combinations

old favourites
The choir sang a few old favourites.
all-time favourites
Those films are my all-time favourites.
firm favourites
These pies are firm favourites with the lunch crowd.
add to favourites
Add the page to your favourites so you can find it again.
joint favourites
The two teams are joint favourites to take the title.

Synonyms and how they differ

pets
Pets, as in teacher's pets, suggests people who are given special treatment, while favourites may just be liked.
best-loved
Best-loved describes things loved by many people, while favourites are personal.
top picks
Top picks is more casual and suggests a choice made from a list.

Opposites

least favouritesoutsiders

Word family

favourite noun
one person or thing liked best
favourite adjective
liked more than all others, as in my favourite book
favouritism noun
unfair special treatment of one person or group
favour verb
to prefer or support one over others

Commonly confused: favourites or favorites?

favourites vs favorites

Favorites is the American spelling; favourites is used in British, Australian and Canadian English.

Practice

Which sentence correctly uses 'favourites' in the sense of expected winners?

Make it your own

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

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