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prefer

Pronunciation: /prɪˈfəː/

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Definition of prefer

verb (prefers, preferring, preferred)

[with object]

1like (one thing or person) better than another or others; tend to choose:I prefer Venice to Rome [with infinitive]:I would prefer to discuss the matter in private [with clause]:Val would presumably prefer that you didn’t get arrested

2 formal submit (a charge or a piece of information) for consideration:the police will prefer charges

3 archaic promote or advance (someone) to a prestigious position:he was eventually preferred to the bishopric of Durham

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French preferer, from Latin praeferre, from prae 'before' + ferre 'to bear, carry'

Spelling rule

If a verb ends with a single vowel plus a consonant, and the stress is at the end of the word (as in refer), double the last letter when adding -ing or -ed: (prefers, preferring, preferred).

prefer in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of prefer in the US English dictionary

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