ENGLISH
REFERENCE

prefers

v.
A2 Elementary US //pɹəˈfɝz// UK //pɹɪfˈɜːz// prefers

v. to like one thing or person more than another. You use this when you have a choice and you pick the one you enjoy most.

v. to like or want one thing more than another; to give priority to one option over others. Transitive — requires a direct object or a gerund phrase.


SIMPLE

She prefers tea over coffee in the morning.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager prefers to receive weekly updates via email rather than having a long meeting every Monday.

COMPLEX

While the majority of the committee supports the new proposal, the chairman prefers the original strategy, citing its proven track record and lower implementation costs.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive. When comparing two things, it takes the preposition 'to' (e.g., 'prefers X to Y') or 'over'.

Pitfall

I prefer coffee than teaI prefer coffee to teaPrefer is followed by the preposition 'to' or 'over' when making a comparison, not 'than'.

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