# preferring

/pɹɪˈfɝɪŋ/ (US) · /pɹɪfˈɜːɹɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/preferring
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

liking one thing or person more than another. You use this when you choose one option because it seems better to you.

For teachers: the present participle of 'prefer'; indicates a greater liking for one alternative over another. Stative in nature; rarely used in continuous tenses in formal writing.

## Examples

- She is preferring tea over coffee these days.
- Many students are preferring digital textbooks this semester because they are easier to carry to class.
- While the committee acknowledged the efficiency of the new proposal, several members remained cautious, preferring the stability of the established protocols despite their slower pace.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am preferring this one than that one" but "I prefer this one to that one" — Prefer is a stative verb and is usually used in the simple present, not the continuous; it also takes 'to' for comparisons.

## Usage notes

- Often followed by a noun or gerund; typically takes the preposition 'to' rather than 'than' when comparing two things.

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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.