{
    "term": "prefer",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a1",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "prefer",
            "heSheIt": "prefers"
        },
        "pastSimple": "preferred",
        "pastParticiple": "preferred",
        "ingForm": "preferring"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to like one thing or person better than another; to choose one thing rather than something else because you like it better",
            "sensetop": "prefer somethingprefer something to somethingprefer something over somethingprefer something + adj.prefer to do somethingprefer somebody/something to do somethingprefer doing somethingprefer that…",
            "labels": "(formal)(especially North American English)(British English)(North American English)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "‘Coffee or tea?’ ‘I'd prefer tea, thanks.’",
                    "contextForm": "prefer something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I **would prefer it if** you didn't tell anyone."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A local firm is **to be preferred**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A short-term fixed rate is the **preferred option**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I much prefer jazz to rock music.",
                    "contextForm": "prefer something to something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I prefer quality to quantity."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Many people prefer streaming over other forms of consuming media.",
                    "contextForm": "prefer something over something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Relevant experience is preferred over formal education."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I prefer my coffee black.",
                    "contextForm": "prefer something + adj."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I **much prefer** to travel by train.",
                    "contextForm": "prefer to do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The donor prefers to remain anonymous."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I prefer not to think about it."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She won't discuss her plans in detail, **preferring instead** to wait until after the election."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Would you prefer me to stay?",
                    "contextForm": "prefer somebody/something to do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I prefer playing in defence.",
                    "contextForm": "prefer doing something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I would prefer that you did not mention my name.",
                    "contextForm": "prefer that…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Employers naturally prefer candidates with some previous experience of the job."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I greatly prefer this version."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I happen to prefer action movies myself."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I prefer his earlier paintings to his later ones."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Industries still tend to prefer virgin raw materials to recycled ones."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I would really prefer to keep this just between ourselves."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We can eat out if you like, but I would prefer to stay in."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You may simply prefer just to sit on the terrace with a cocktail."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Preferences and decisions"],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["greatly", "much", "overwhelmingly"],
                "verb + prefer": ["would", "tend to", "appear to"],
                "preposition": ["over", "to"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to accuse somebody formally of a crime so that there can be a trial in court",
            "labels": "(law)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Police have brought a charge of dangerous driving against the man."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Many victims of crime are reluctant to press charges against their attackers."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She laid charges against the firm for not complying with the regulations."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Law and justice"]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/prɪˈfɜː(r)/",
                "audio": "pr/prefer/prefer__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/prɪˈfɜːz/",
                "audio": "pr/prefer/prefers__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/prɪˈfɜːd/",
                "audio": "pr/prefer/preferred__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/prɪˈfɜːrɪŋ/",
                "audio": "pr/prefer/preferring__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/prɪˈfɜːr/",
                "audio": "pr/prefer/prefer__us_3.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/prɪˈfɜːrz/",
                "audio": "pr/prefer/prefers__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/prɪˈfɜːrd/",
                "audio": "pr/prefer/preferred__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/prɪˈfɜːrɪŋ/",
                "audio": "pr/prefer/preferring__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late Middle English: from Old French preferer, from Latin praeferre, from prae ‘before’ + ferre ‘to bear, carry’."
}