favorite

1 of 2

noun

fa·​vor·​ite ˈfā-v(ə-)rət How to pronounce favorite (audio)
ˈfā-vərt,
 chiefly dialectal  ˈfā-və-ˌrīt
1
: one that is treated or regarded with special favor or liking
That song is my favorite.
especially : a person who is specially loved, trusted, or provided with favors by someone of high rank or authority
The king granted the land to two of his favorites.
2
: a competitor judged most likely to win
Which horse is the favorite in this race?

favorite

2 of 2

adjective

: constituting a favorite
his favorite daughter
especially : markedly popular
the country's favorite sport

Examples of favorite in a Sentence

Noun Of all his books, do you have a favorite? That movie is my favorite. That movie is a great favorite with audiences everywhere. Adjective that teacher claims not to have any favorite students, although many in the class would disagree mint chocolate chip is my favorite flavor of ice cream
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The early favorite was Oliver Jenkins, a Shreveport city-council member who’d been a Marine fighter pilot in Iraq. David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2024 Some of our favorites opted for some more avant garde takes on traditional awards season gowns. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2024 Where to watch The Old Dark House: Tubi 12 of 30 Vampyr (1932) Another European vampire film from the first half-century of cinema, Carl Theodor Dreyer’s 1932 fantasy-horror hybrid was a favorite of Alfred Hitchcock’s. Katie Rife, EW.com, 12 Mar. 2024 Our favorites here are the mussels marinière (me) and the flat iron steak with madeira sauce. Felicia Campbell, The Arizona Republic, 12 Mar. 2024 Born from the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, the cafe has been a local favorite since 2006. Kayla Michelle Smith, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2024 If history is any guide, the Irish imports will be favorites to win most of the top races, which were once watched by the late Queen Elizabeth II – herself an avid rider from childhood. Olivia Fletcher, Fortune Europe, 11 Mar. 2024 On betting sites such as FanDuel and DraftKings, Oppenheimer was such a favorite for best picture that gamblers needed to put up $5,000 just to win $100. Thomas Buckley, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024 But her path from prep star to world championship favorite had its challenges. John Ortega, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The sight of it hit a nostalgic chord that stuck with them and sparked the idea to put up swings on their favorite trails. Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2024 Add a fashionable flair to your favorite travel pants with the $148 Women's Anya Mary Jane Flats in Leather, which are only $84 this weekend. Isis Briones, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2024 As the holiday quickly approaches, dedicate your time to preparing your favorite Easter recipes, and don’t worry about searching high and low for the best matching dresses. Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2024 One of my favorite moments is when a client takes off his shoes. Essence, 16 Mar. 2024 Kevin Bacon is celebrating one of his favorite dance partner's special day. Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024 Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. EW.com, 15 Mar. 2024 From Hollywood to New York and everywhere in between, see what your favorite stars are up to Stars have been everywhere this week, from Taylor Swift bringing The Eras Tour to Singapore to Serena Williams hitting Paris Fashion Week. People Staff, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024 Black’s favorite way to self tan is with mousse and an application mitt, and beginners may find this to be easiest. Addie Morton, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'favorite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Italian favorito, past participle of favorire to favor, from favore favor, from Latin favor

First Known Use

Noun

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1692, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of favorite was in 1583

Dictionary Entries Near favorite

Cite this Entry

“Favorite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/favorite. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

favorite

1 of 2 noun
fa·​vor·​ite ˈfāv-(ə-)rət How to pronounce favorite (audio)
1
: a person or a thing that is preferred more than others
2
: the contestant considered as having the best chance to win

favorite

2 of 2 adjective
: being a favorite
our favorite show

More from Merriam-Webster on favorite

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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