preferably en · ADV
Pronunciation
Etymology
Etymology tree English preferable Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English preferably From preferable + -ly.
Meanings
-
In preference; by choice; in a preferable manner.
He felt having a Micronesian navigator meant he needed a pureblooded Polynesian, preferably a Hawaiian, as captain.
2007 May 27, Douglas Martin, “Kawika Kapahulehua Dies; Hawaiian Seafarer Was 76”, in The New York Times:The nondegerming system grinds corn, preferably white dent corn, into meal with little, if any, separation of germ.
2000, Karel Kulp, Handbook of Cereal Science and Technology, Revised and Expanded, page 48:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most preferably | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more preferably | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| preferrably | alternative | lexicographic |
Synonyms
liefer · better · rather · preferredly · liever
Translations (27)
nn fortrinnsvis (in preference) · fr préférablement (in preference) · it preferibilmente (in preference) · ro (în manieră) preferabilă (in preference) · tr tercihen (in preference) · bg за предпочитане (in preference) · fr de préférence (in preference) · sv helst (in preference) · eo prefere (in preference) · pt preferencialmente (in preference) · es preferiblemente (in preference) · ru желательно (in preference) · el κατά προτίμηση (in preference) · ka უკეთ (in preference) · ka უპირატესად (in preference) · fi mieluiten (in preference) · pt de preferência (in preference) · nl bij voorkeur (in preference) · la potior (in preference) · de vorzugsweise (in preference) · ru предпочтительно (in preference) · ka უმჯობესად (in preference) · nb fortrinnsvis (in preference) · ro (în mod) preferabil (in preference) · ca preferiblement (in preference) · ru лучше (in preference) · pl najchętniej (in preference)