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 The advice is nearly always the same — wait until after midnight, preferably until the hours before dawn, then give your eyes half an hour to adjust to the darkness. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Philadelphia is now entering a stretch of games that will demand competence (and preferably excellence) from the offense. — Andy Behrens, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026 Then fold the quilt up for putting back in storage—preferably in a different configuration so the quilt doesn’t develop creases. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026 Look for anything 6 amps and above minimum but preferably 10 and above. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for preferably

Recent Examples of Synonyms for preferably

Adverb

Some groups have also emphasized that public health officials should lead not with conversations about an individual child’s risk or potential benefit from vaccines, but rather the vaccines’ impact on society overall.

— Nicholas Florko, STAT, 21 Oct. 2026
Teddy bears and trains, baseballs and dolls dance through the air into Santa's enormous sack, which sits at Santa's feet, or rather Harry's, who is perched high on the throne at the back of the float, magnificent in white whiskers and red velvet.

— Danielle Parker, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of rather

Adverb

Carney remembered Goulding as someone who willingly took on difficult challenges, and Wong as someone his family could always depend on.

— Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
The film’s central question, as Coon sees it, is why someone might willingly abandon a conventional life for an alternative community.

— Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of willingly

Browse Nearby Words

prefer

preferably

preference

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Style

“Preferably.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preferably. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of preferably

adverb

Example Sentences

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