favourite

English Online Dictionary. What means favourite‎? What does favourite mean?

English

Alternative forms

• (American English) favorite

Etymology

Attested from the 1580s, borrowed from Middle French favorit, from Old French favorit or Italian favorito (“favoured, favourite”), past participle of Italian favorire (“to favor”), from favore, from Latin favor (“good will, favor”), from the verb faveō (“I favour”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂weh₁yeti (“to be favourable to”), from the root Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- (“to shine, glow light”). Doublet of favor and favori.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfeɪv.ɹɪt/

Adjective

favourite (British, Ireland, Commonwealth)

1. Preferred or liked above all others (unless qualified).

   Antonyms: least favorite, unfavourite, unfavorite

2. Belonging to a category whose members are all preferred or liked over nonmembers.

Translations

Noun

favourite (plural favourites) (British, Ireland, Commonwealth)

1. A person or thing who enjoys special regard or favour.

   Antonyms: unfavourite, unfavorite

2. A person who is preferred or trusted above all others.

   Synonym: top dog (most preferred)

   Synonym: darling (most loved)

3. A contestant or competitor thought most likely to win.

4. (Internet) A bookmark in a web browser.
5. (in the plural) A short curl dangling over the temples, fashionable in the reign of Charles II.

Derived terms

• hot favourite
• unbackable favourite

Related terms

Translations

Verb

favourite (third-person singular simple present favourites, present participle favouriting, simple past and past participle favourited) (British, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Malta, South Africa)

1. To favour.
2. (Internet) To bookmark.
3. (Internet) To add to one's list of favourite items on a website that allows users to compile such lists.

   Antonyms: unfavourite, unfavorite

Derived terms

• fave

Translations