PREFERABLY Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words

preferably

adverb

ˈpre-f(ə-)rə-blē

Definition of preferably next

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 In Chile and other places where hantaviruses are more common, a standard recommendation for patients with respiratory symptoms is to swiftly transfer them to a health facility with high-level care, preferably one with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). —

ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026 Seaside destinations call for cover-up dresses—preferably knit, preferably colorful—and flowy silhouettes that’ll take you from the beach club to the dinner reservation. —

Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 8 May 2026 Seek a safe place to shelter, preferably indoors. —

Southern California Weather Report, Daily News, 4 May 2026 Seek a safe place to shelter, preferably indoors. —

Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 3 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for preferably

Recent Examples of Synonyms for preferably

Adverb

That means viewership around such stuff is smaller, and the networks need to show that ads are reaching not the most people, but rather the most likely people to be interested in a bottle of soda, a specific kind of running shoe, or a new weight-loss drug.

— Michael Schneider, Variety, 15 May 2026
That’s because the government’s gas tax isn’t collected right at the pump, but rather at the wholesale level.

— Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026