Preferable Meaning
/ˈpɹɛf.(ə.)ɹə.b(ə)l/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjBetter than some other option; preferred.
Sentence Examples
Work is preferable to idleness.
I think death is preferable to shame.
Bad news is preferable to an absence of information.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
Taking the train is much ____ to driving because it saves time.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Taking the train was ____ to driving given the heavy traffic expected on the motorway.
Word Origin & History
From prefer + -able, probably after Middle French preferable. Compare preference, preferential, etc.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"This work has been the care and ſtudy of ſome years; as far as health, and other affairs, would permit. For, this appeared, to the author, of as much greater importance, than any other hiſtory whatever; as morality and religion are more excellent, than any temporal affairs; and the hiſtory of true religion, præferrable to that of impoſtures and deluſions."
— 1756, George Benson, “The Præface. To the First Edition.”, in The History of the First Planting of the Christian Religion: Taken from the Acts of the Apostles, and Their Epistles. Together with the Remarkable Facts of the Jewish and Roman History; Which Affected the Christians, Within This Period., the second edition, volume the first, London: […] J. Waugh and W. Fenner, page v:
"It is not to the point that an inequality of material goods, at high levels, may not be preferable to an equality of material goods at a lower level, precisely for such reasons as self-respect."
— 2007, Ted Honderich, On political means and social ends, →ISBN, page 94:
"While adopting the pronoun as a nonbinary description is vastly preferable for some, Merriam-Webster says, there has also been some debate that it is ungrammatical."
— 2019 September 17, Kendall Trammell, “Merriam-Webster adds the nonbinary pronoun ‘they’ to its dictionary”, in CNN:
"If you’re looking for the most breathable mask, Lukovics says, “Cotton is preferable, mainly for absorbing moisture/sweat.” She says multiple layers may be more protective but will also impact breathability."
— 2021 August 17, Elizabeth Wallace and Kai Burkhardt, “12 breathable face masks to protect you while exercising”, in CNN:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Taking the train is much ____ to driving because it saves time.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Taking the train was ____ to driving given the heavy traffic expected on the motorway.