PREFERABLY Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words

preferably

adverb

ˈpre-f(ə-)rə-blē

Definition of preferably

as in rather

by choice or preference I like football, but preferably watching from the stands rather than being down on the field

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of preferably According to EarthSky, look low in the east about 30 to 45 minutes before sunrise, preferably from a location with an unobstructed horizon. — Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 29 July 2026 Add 2 1/2 inches of oil to a large, heavy skillet, preferably cast-iron. — Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 27 July 2026 Given Copenhagen’s cobblestone streets and widespread biking culture, practical (and preferably stylish) shoes are a must. — Yerin Kim, InStyle, 27 July 2026 Gaudenzi spent most of his first year scrambling to endure a crisis that hemorrhaged funds from a sport that can’t function unless players can travel and compete, preferably in front of thousands of spectators. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for preferably

Recent Examples of Synonyms for preferably

Adverb

However, emerging research suggests that these neurons are not a unified group, but rather have distinct molecular identities.

— Isabella Backman, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
That seems rather unfair on those who operated well under their PSR limit, and a concession offered by the EFL arrives in the form of a transitional ‘allowable headroom injection’.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of rather

Adverb

What happened to the colonists remains unknown, but archaeological finds—including otherwise anachronistic English artifacts on Hatteras Island—give some support to White’s theory that at least some of the colonists relocated willingly.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
By suggesting that Black women would willingly place their own children in mortal danger for profit, such narratives provided yet another means of humiliating, degrading and dehumanizing African Americans.

— The Conversation, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of willingly

Browse Nearby Words

prefer

preferably

preference

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“Preferably.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preferably. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of preferably

adverb

Example Sentences

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