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| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Language: | French |
| Origin: | préférer, from Latin praeferre 'to put in front, prefer' |
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pre‧fer S2 W2
past tense and past participle preferred, present participle preferring [transitive not in progressive]
past tense and past participle preferred, present participle preferring [transitive not in progressive]1 to like someone or something more than someone or something else, so that you would choose it if you could [↪ preference]: This type of owl prefers a desert habitat. She prefers her coffee black. the government's preferred option Employees said they would prefer more flexible working hours.
This type of owl prefers a desert habitat.She prefers her coffee black.the government's preferred optionEmployees said they would prefer more flexible working hours.2
I would prefer it if
spokena) used to say that you wish a situation was different : Sales have gone down, and obviously we'd prefer it if that didn't happen.
Sales have gone down, and obviously we'd prefer it if that didn't happen.b) used when telling someone politely not to do something : I'd prefer it if you didn't smoke in front of the children.
I'd prefer it if you didn't smoke in front of the children.3 to make an official statement that someone has done something illegal
