# prefer

> English word · Verb · IPA [pɹɪˈfɝ] · frequency rank #2,640

## Definitions
1. To be in the habit of choosing something rather than something else; to favor; to like better.
2. To advance, promote (someone or something).
3. To present or submit (something) to an authority (now usually in "to prefer charges").
4. To put forward for acceptance; to introduce, recommend (to).

## Etymology
From Middle English preferren, from Anglo-Norman preferer, from Latin praeferō. Displaced native Old English foresettan and foreberan. Doublet of prelate. See also infer, relate and refer, delate and defer, as well as collate and confer among others.

## Easily confused with
- **proper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prefer-vs-proper)
- **primer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prefer-vs-primer)
- **prefix** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prefer-vs-prefix)
- **preset** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prefer-vs-preset)
- **preyed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prefer-vs-preyed)
- **prewar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prefer-vs-prewar)
- **puffer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prefer-vs-puffer)
- **premier** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prefer-vs-premier)
- **presser** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prefer-vs-presser)
- **preterm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prefer-vs-preterm)
- **peer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/peer-vs-prefer)
- **Peter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/peter-vs-prefer)
- **prayer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prayer-vs-prefer)
- **prefect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prefect-vs-prefer)

## Common misspellings (9)
`perfer`, `pprefer`, `preefr`, `preferr`, `preffer`, `prefre`, `prfeer`, `prrefer`, `rpefer`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/prefer