Preferable: meaning, definitions and examples

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preferable

 

[ prəˈfɜrəbəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

desired choice

Preferable refers to something that is more favorable or desirable compared to others. It indicates a choice or option that is preferred over others due to certain qualities or characteristics.

Synonyms

advantageous, better, desirable, more suitable

Examples of usage

  • This option is preferable for our project.
  • A smaller car is preferable for city driving.
  • It's preferable to start early rather than late.

Translations

Translations of the word "preferable" in other languages:

🇵🇹 preferível

🇮🇳 प्राथमिक

🇩🇪 bevorzugt

🇮🇩 lebih disukai

🇺🇦 бажаний

🇵🇱 preferowany

🇯🇵 好ましい

🇫🇷 préférable

🇪🇸 preferible

🇹🇷 tercih edilen

🇰🇷 선호되는

🇸🇦 مفضل

🇨🇿 preferovaný

🇸🇰 preferovaný

🇨🇳 可取的

🇸🇮 prednosten

🇮🇸 fýsilegur

🇰🇿 жөнді

🇬🇪 პრიორიტეტული

🇦🇿 üstünlük verilən

🇲🇽 preferible

Etymology

The term 'preferable' is derived from the Latin word 'praeferre,' which means 'to carry before' or 'to prefer.' The word made its way into the English language around the 15th century, initially appearing as 'preferabble' before evolving into its current form. The prefix 'pre-' denoting 'before' and 'ferre' meaning 'to bear or carry' reflects the notion of prioritizing one option over another. Thus, 'preferable' essentially communicates a sense of priority in choice. Over the centuries, the usage of 'preferable' has expanded beyond mere preference to encompass ideas of suitability, appropriateness, and desirability in various contexts, especially in decision-making scenarios.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,960 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.