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/prəfˈər/ /prɪfˈər/ /prifˈər/ Listen

verb

Prefer v. t. (past & past part. preferred; pres. part. preferring)

1.

To carry or bring (something) forward, or before one; hence, to bring for consideration, acceptance, judgment, etc.; to offer; to present; to proffer; to address; said especially of a request, prayer, petition, claim, charge, etc. "He spake, and to her hand preferred the bowl." "Presently prefer his suit to Caesar." "Three tongues prefer strange orisons on high."

2.

To go before, or be before, in estimation; to outrank; to surpass. (Obs.) "Though maidenhood prefer bigamy."

3.

To cause to go before; hence, to advance before others, as to an office or dignity; to raise; to exalt; to promote; as, to prefer an officer to the rank of general. "I would prefer him to a better place."

4.

To set above or before something else in estimation, favor, or liking; to regard or honor before another; to hold in greater favor; to choose rather; often followed by to, before, or above. "If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy." "Preferred an infamous peace before a most just war."

Preferred stock, stock which takes a dividend before other capital stock; called also preference stock and preferential stock.

Synonyms: To choose; elect. See Choose.

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Etymology of 'Prefer'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Prefer" Quotes from Famous Books

... letter lies upon the surface. If the European powers were determined to leave him no alternative, the king was prepared to ally himself with the Lutherans. But however he might profess to desire that alliance, it was evident that he would prefer, if possible, a less extreme resource. The pope had ceased to be an object of concern to him; but he could not contemplate, without extreme unwillingness, a separation from the orderly governments who professed the Catholic faith. The pope had injured him; Francis had deceived him; they had ...

— The Reign of Henry the Eighth, Volume 1 (of 3) • James Anthony Froude

... should prefer to stay here a little and go into one or two questions of detail. Straker was brought ...

— Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes • Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

... probability in believing that it is a trick you are playing me, to see how I shall extricate myself from such slippery ground. Nevertheless, I cannot resist the entreaties, or rather the orders, with which your letter is filled; and I prefer to expose myself to the pleasantry of the free thinkers, or the reproaches of the credulous, than the anger of those with which I am threatened ...

— The Phantom World - or, The philosophy of spirits, apparitions, &c, &c. • Augustin Calmet

... Concord men—are intellectuals. Perhaps—but intellectuals who wear their brains nearer the heart than some of their critics. It is as dangerous to determine a characteristic by manner as by mood. Emerson is a pure intellectual to those who prefer to take him as literally as they can. There are reformers, and in "the form" lies their interest, who prefer to stand on the plain, and then insist they see from the summit. Indolent legs supply the strength of eye for their inspiration. ...

— Essays Before a Sonata • Charles Ives

... run out of doors, to close her ears to this maddening discussion. She felt that it was either that or deliberately slap Sanchia Murray's face. Now, however, she sat down again, deciding with a degree of acumen that Sanchia would prefer nothing to a tete-a-tete ...

— The Desert Valley • Jackson Gregory

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