1. More desirable than another
   "Danny's preferred name is ‘Dan’";
   - preferable
    
2. (of a person) valued more than all others, often treated with partiality
   "the preferred child";
   - favored [US], favorite [US], favourite [Brit, Cdn], best-loved, pet, preferent, favoured [Brit, Cdn], fave [informal]

1. Like better; value more highly
   "Some people prefer camping to staying in hotels"; "We prefer sleeping outside"
    
2. Select as an alternative over another
   "I always prefer the fish over the meat courses in this restaurant";
   - choose, opt
    
3. Promote over another
   "he prefers his second daughter";
   - favor [US], favour [Brit, Cdn]
    
4. (law) give preference to one creditor over another
   "The court preferred the senior creditors in the bankruptcy case"

See also: desirable, loved

Type of: advance, choose, elevate, kick upstairs [informal], like, pay, pick out, promote, raise, select, take, upgrade

Encyclopedia: Preferred