English Reference
noun · adjective · verb

favorite

n. · adj. · v.
US /ˈfeɪvɝɪt/ UK /fˈeɪvəɹɪt/ fa·vorite UK spelling favorites, favourite

  1. 01 A1 Beginner American English

    n.the person or thing that you like the most out of a group.

    n.a person or thing regarded with special favour or preference above others.

    Simple

    Out of all the ice cream flavors, chocolate is definitely my favorite.

    In context

    While the teacher tried to remain impartial, it was clear to the class that the hardworking student was her favorite.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate American English Sport

    n.the person or team that people think is most likely to win a race or game.

    n.the competitor or contestant considered most likely to succeed or win.

    Simple

    The local team is the favorite to win the championship this year.

    In context

    Despite being the heavy favorite in the polls, the candidate lost the election by a narrow margin.

    frontrunnerprobable winner
  3. 03 A1 Beginner American English

    adj.describes something that you like better than all others of the same kind.

    adj.denoting a person or thing that is preferred above all others.

    Simple

    She sat in her favorite chair by the window to read her book.

    In context

    The director returned to his favorite filming location in the desert to capture the final sequence of the movie.

    preferredbest loved
  4. 04 B1 Intermediate American EnglishInformal Computing

    v.to mark a post, photo, or website so you can find it again later.

    v.to add a digital item to a list of preferred items on a social media platform or browser.

    Simple

    I decided to favorite the recipe so I could cook it for dinner next week.

    In context

    Users can favorite specific articles to curate a personalized feed of technical documentation for future reference.

    Usage

    Often used as a transitive verb in the context of social media interfaces.

Don't confuse

favorite vs favourite — British English uses the -our spelling, while American English uses the -or spelling.

This entry
Level A1 · Beginner
Frequency Very common
Updated