preferred

Everyday

1. Preferred means liked one thing more than another. tree →
2. As an adjective, preferred means the one that is chosen or liked best. tree →
3. (formal) In a job advert, «preferred» means wanted but not required. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life «I preferred the blue one» compares two things. In maths surveys and tally charts, «which fruit is preferred» asks which is most popular. In forms, «preferred name» is what you like to be called. Phrases: preferred to, preferred over, preferred name, preferred choice.

Examples

• I preferred the book to the film. tree →
• Most pupils preferred pizza to pasta. tree →
• She preferred to walk rather than take the bus. tree →
• In the survey, 18 of 30 pupils preferred apples, so 12 preferred something else. tree →
• Write your preferred name on the form. tree →
• Cats are preferred as pets in our street. tree →
• Experience in sport is preferred but not required. (formal) tree →
• We both loved the same Fairy, but she preferred me. tree →

Note

Double the r: prefer → preferred, preferring (because the stress is on «-fer»). But «preference» has one r. Use «prefer A to B» (not «than»). In maths, «preferred» answers a survey; the most preferred is the mode.

In Jewish tradition

In everyday life «I preferred the blue one» compares two things. In maths surveys and tally charts, «which fruit is preferred» asks which is most popular. In forms, «preferred name» is what you like to be called. Phrases: preferred to, preferred over, preferred name, preferred choice.

Examples

• Certain translators have preferred to render otyot yesod as 'elemental letters' by analogy with the Greek term. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) tree →
• My reading according to a manuscript of Rabbi Isaac Luria, which I have preferred to all others, is thus: (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →

Note

Double the r: prefer → preferred, preferring (because the stress is on «-fer»). But «preference» has one r. Use «prefer A to B» (not «than»). In maths, «preferred» answers a survey; the most preferred is the mode.