# favor

/ˈfeɪvɝ/ (US) · /fˈeɪvɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/favor
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a kind act

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

something kind that you do to help someone.

For teachers: a kind or helpful deed performed voluntarily for another person.

- Could you do me a favor and pick up some milk on your way home?
- He felt he owed her a favor after she spent the entire weekend helping him move into his new apartment.

Usage: Commonly used with the verb 'do'.

### 2. approval or support

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

support or approval for someone or something.

For teachers: approval, support, or liking for someone or something; often used regarding public opinion or authority.

- The new policy found favor with most of the employees.
- The candidate struggled to regain favor with the voters after the controversial details of the scandal were released to the press.

### 3. unfair preference

noun · CEFR C1 · American English · Formal

treating one person better than others in an unfair way.

For teachers: unfair partiality or bias shown toward one person or group.

- The manager was accused of showing favor to his own relatives.
- The judge was careful to remain neutral, ensuring that no side could claim he had shown favor to the prosecution during the trial.

### 4. a small gift

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a small, cheap gift given to guests at a party.

For teachers: a small decorative item or gift given to guests at a party or wedding.

- Each child left the birthday party with a small bag of favors.
- The couple spent weeks choosing elegant wedding favors that would reflect their shared love of local craftsmanship.

### 5. to prefer

verb · CEFR B2 · American English

to like or support one member of a group more than the others.

For teachers: to give unfair advantages to or to prefer one person or thing over others.

- The teacher tried not to favor any of her students over the others.
- Current tax laws tend to favor large corporations while placing a heavier relative burden on small business owners.

### 6. to resemble

verb · CEFR C2 · American English · Dialect

to look like a member of your family.

For teachers: to resemble a parent or relative in physical appearance.

- The young boy really favors his father, especially around the eyes.
- In many rural communities, you will still hear people remark on how much a newborn favors their grandfather.

Teaching tip: This sense is primarily found in American regional dialects and may sound old-fashioned to some speakers.

### 7. to protect an injury

verb · CEFR C1 · American English

to avoid using a part of your body because it is hurt.

For teachers: to avoid putting weight or pressure on a limb or body part to prevent pain or further injury.

- He was favoring his left leg after he tripped on the stairs.
- The athlete continued to play despite the injury, though it was obvious to the coach that he was favoring his right ankle.

## Examples

- Could you do me a favor and carry this bag?
- He asked his neighbor for a favor, hoping she would watch his dog while he was away for the weekend.
- The politician was accused of granting government contracts as a favor to his former business associates, raising serious questions about his professional ethics.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.