word-vault
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A lightweight JavaScript package for English word definitions and collections.
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{
"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’."
}