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Prefer vs Best - What's the difference?

prefer | best |

As a verb prefer

is .

As a proper noun best is

.

prefer

English

Alternative forms

* * preferre

Verb

(preferr)
  • *, II.3.2:
  • *:Tiberius preferred many to honours in his time, because they were famous whoremasters and sturdy drinkers.
  • (lb) To be in the habit of choosing something rather than something else; to favor; to like better.
  • :
  • *
  • *:"My tastes," he said, still smiling, "incline me to the garishly sunlit side of this planet." And, to tease her and arouse her to combat: "I prefer a farandole to a nocturne; I'd rather have a painting than an etching; Mr. Whistler bores me with his monochromatic mud; I don't like dull colours, dull sounds, dull intellects;."
  • (lb) To present or submit (something) to an authority (now usually in "to prefer charges").
  • *1630 , , True Travels , in Kupperman 1988, p.36:
  • *:one Master David Hume, who making some use of his purse, gave him Letters to his friends in Scotland to preferre him to King James.
  • *1817 , (Walter Scott), , XVII:
  • *:Such were the arguments which my will boldly preferred to my conscience, as coin which ought to be current, and which conscience, like a grumbling shopkeeper, was contented to accept.
  • Usage notes

    * The verb can be used in three different forms: *
  • prefer'' + noun + ''to'' (or ''over'') + noun. Example: ''I prefer coffee to tea .
  • *
  • prefer'' + gerund + ''to'' (or ''over'') + gerund. Example: ''I prefer skiing to swimming .
  • *
  • prefer'' + full infinitive + ''rather than'' + bare infinitive. Example: ''I prefer to eat fish rather than (eat) meat .
  • Derived terms

    * preference * preferential

    best

    English

    Adjective

    (head)
  • (good).
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
  • When he is best , he is a little worse than a man.
  • * (John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • Heaven's last, best gift
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-08-10, volume=408, issue=8848, magazine=(The Economist), author=Schumpeter
  • , title= Cronies and capitols , passage=Policing the relationship between government and business in a free society is difficult.
  • Most; largest.
  • Derived terms

    * bestness

    Antonyms

    * worst

    Adverb

    (head)
  • *(John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • *:Thou serpent! That name best befits thee.
  • *(Samuel Taylor Coleridge) (1772-1834)
  • *:He prayeth best', who loveth ' best / All things both great and small.
  • *
  • *:At her invitation he outlined for her the succeeding chapters with terse military accuracy?; and what she liked best' and ' best understood was avoidance of that false modesty which condescends, turning technicality into pabulum.
  • To the most advantage; with the most success, cause, profit, benefit, or propriety.
  • *(John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • *:Had we best retire? I see a storm.
  • *(William Makepeace Thackeray) (1811-1863)
  • *:Had I not best go to her?
  • Noun

  • (uncountable) The supreme effort one can make, or has made.
  • I did my best .
    My personal best in that race is eighteen minutes, four seconds.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011
  • , date=September 28 , author=Tom Rostance , title=Arsenal 2 - 1 Olympiakos , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Home defender Per Mertesacker had to be at his best to stop a dangerous cross from Vassilis Torossidis reaching Djebbour, but moments later Arsenal doubled their lead through Santos.}}
  • (countable) The person (or persons) who is (are) most excellent.
  • something that is best
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • to surpass in skill or achievement.
  • To beat in a contest;
  • * 2010 , T. William Phillips, Restless Heart , page 16
  • "You did not win because I was sloppy. You bested me, Uncle. I've never seen you fight like that before.”

    Antonyms

    * To worst.

    Derived terms

    * all for the best * all the best * as best one can * at best * had best * have the best of * get the best of * make the best of * the best part of * with the best * best of the best

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * bets 1000 English basic words ----