What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Favourite vs Prefer - What's the difference?

favourite | prefer |

As verbs the difference between favourite and prefer

is that favourite is while prefer is .

As an adjective favourite

is preferred or liked above all others (unless qualified).

As a noun favourite

is a person who enjoys special regard or favour.

favourite

English

(wikipedia favourite)

Alternative forms

* (American English) favorite

Alternative forms

* (US ) favorite

Adjective

(-)
  • Preferred or liked above all others (unless qualified.)
    • This is my second favourite occupation.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A person who enjoys special regard or favour.
  • A person who is preferred or trusted above all others.
  • A contestant or competitor thought most likely to win.
    • You were my favourite to win the spelling competition.
  • (in the plural) A short curl dangling over the temples, fashionable in the reign of (Charles II).
    • (Farquhar)

    Verb

    (favourit)
  • (Internet) To bookmark.
  • (Internet) To add to one's list of favourites on a website that allows users to compile such lists.

    • 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