Meaning & use
prefer
Last updated
Meanings
verbtransitive
To like one thing or person better than another and choose it when you can.
Grammar: Takes an object, often with to: prefer tea to coffee.
Patterns
- prefer something to something
- prefer to do something
- prefer doing something
- prefer something rather than something
I prefer tea to coffee in the morning.
She prefers to work alone.
Most of us prefer walking to driving in the city.
verbtransitivelegalformal
To formally bring a charge or complaint before a court or authority.
Grammar: Takes an object: prefer charges.
Patterns
- prefer charges against someone
The police preferred charges against the driver.
The company preferred a complaint with the regulator.
No one has preferred charges so far.
Word forms
| third person singular | prefers |
|---|---|
| past tense | preferred |
| past participle | preferred |
| -ing form | preferring |
Common combinations
- prefer A to B
- I prefer trains to planes.
- would prefer to
- I would prefer to stay home tonight.
- strongly prefer
- Many users strongly prefer the old design.
- prefer rather than
- They prefer to walk rather than take a taxi.
- prefer not to
- I prefer not to discuss money.
- prefer charges
- The store decided to prefer charges against the thief.
Synonyms and how they differ
- favor
- Favor can mean to support a side or give it better treatment, so it has a wider range than prefer.
- choose
- Choose names the act of picking, while prefer names the liking behind the pick.
- fancy
- Fancy is informal and British and often means to want, as in I fancy a coffee.
- like better
- Like better is a plainer phrase and often comes without a direct object.
Opposites
Word family
- preference noun
- a greater liking for one thing over another
- preferable adjective
- more desirable or suitable
- preferably adverb
- if possible, as a first choice
- preferred adjective
- chosen or liked best
- preferential adjective
- giving an advantage to someone
Commonly confused: prefer or refer? prefer or prefer than?
prefer vs refer
Refer means to mention or point to something, and it is different from prefer, which means to like better.
prefer vs prefer than
Prefer than is incorrect; use prefer to or prefer rather than.
Practice
Which sentence is correct?
Choose one answer.
Prefer is followed by to when comparing two nouns. Than is not used with prefer.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “prefer”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.