Definition of
Prefer
- (verb, emotion) like better; value more highly
We prefer sleeping outside - (verb, cognition) select as an alternative over another
She opted for the job on the East coast - (verb, social) promote over another
- (verb, social) give preference to one creditor over another
- (verb, emotion) like better; value more highly
via WordNet, Princeton University
Alternate forms of Prefer
Derivations: preference, preferment
Hyponyms: advantage, cop out, opt out
Hypernyms: advance, elevate, kick upstairs, like, pay, promote, raise, upgrade
Origin of the word Prefer
- 1388, "to put forward or advance in rank or fortune, to promote," from L. pr?ferre "place or set before, carry in front," from pr?- "before" + ferre "to carry, to place" (see infer). Meaning "to esteem (something) more than others" is recorded from 1390. Original sense in Eng. is preserved in preferment (1451). Preference "act of prefering" is more
via Online Etymology Dictionary, ©2001 Douglas Harper