favour

[ fey-ver ]

noun, verb (used with object)Chiefly British.

usage note For favour

See -or1.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use favour in a sentence

  • Separated from Frederick for 13 years, George II clearly favoured his second son, William, Duke of Cumberland.

    How To Be a King, Circa 1749 | Tom Sykes | February 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • Old Mrs. Wurzel and the buxom but not too well-favoured heiress of the house of Grains were at the head of the table.

  • “Lecompton” constitution of Kansas was a pro-slavery document which Buchanan favoured.

    Assimilative Memory | Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
  • Mrs. Charmington, in a long tête-à-tête with which she had favoured him, had called him "her hero."

  • Society likes their genial companionship, and they are favourites with, and favoured alike by young and old.

    The World Before Them | Susanna Moodie

British Dictionary definitions for favour

favour

US favor

/ (ˈfeɪvə) /


noun
  1. an approving attitude; good will

  2. an act performed out of good will, generosity, or mercy

  1. prejudice and partiality; favouritism

  2. a condition of being regarded with approval or good will (esp in the phrases in favour, out of favour)

  3. archaic leave; permission

  4. a token of love, goodwill, etc

  5. a small gift or toy given to a guest at a party

  6. history a badge or ribbon worn or given to indicate loyalty, often bestowed on a knight by a lady

  7. obsolete, mainly British a communication, esp a business letter

  8. archaic appearance

  9. find favour with to be approved of by someone

  10. in favour of

    • approving

    • to the benefit of

    • (of a cheque, etc) made out to

    • in order to show preference for: I rejected him in favour of George

verb(tr)
  1. to regard with especial kindness or approval

  2. to treat with partiality or favouritism

  1. to support; advocate

  2. to perform a favour for; oblige

  3. to help; facilitate

  4. informal to resemble: he favours his father

  5. to wear habitually: she favours red

  6. to treat gingerly or with tenderness; spare: a footballer favouring an injured leg

Origin of favour

1
C14: from Latin, from favēre to protect

Derived forms of favour

  • favourer or US favorer, noun
  • favouringly or US favoringly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012