favor

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A kind or helpful deed; an instance of voluntarily assisting (someone).
2. (countable, uncountable) Goodwill; benevolent regard.
3. (countable, uncountable) A small gift; a party favor.
4. (countable, uncountable) Mildness or mitigation of punishment; lenity.
5. (countable, uncountable) The object of regard; person or thing favoured.
6. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Appearance; look; countenance; face.
7. (countable, uncountable) Partiality; bias
8. (archaic, countable, uncountable) A letter, a written communication.
9. (Northern-England, archaic, countable, uncountable) A resemblance, likeness.
10. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Anything worn publicly as a pledge of a woman's favor.
11. (countable, historical, uncountable) A ribbon or similar small item that is worn as an adornment, especially in celebration of an event.

Verb

1. To look upon fondly; to prefer.
2. To use more often.
3. To encourage, conduce to
4. To do a favor [noun sense 1] for; to show beneficence toward.
5. To resemble; especially, to look like (another person).

Synonyms

favour

grace

kindness

prefer

benefit

favour

approval

service

gift

🎁

like

patronage

love

❤️

popularity

luck

🍀

help

blessing

favorably disposed

show kindness

courtesy

advantage

favourably disposed

preference

support

aid

assist

privilege

promote

good turn

party favour

friendship

agree

treat well

shelter

protect

befriend

party favor

debt of gratitude

partiality

present

liking

merit

obligation

honor

good will

goodwill

kind

charity

appreciation

admiration

bestowment

Translations

faveur

Gunst

favore

favor

favorire

favoriser

favorecer

service

Gnade

εύνοια

Gefallen

ευνοώ

bevorzugen

Wohlwollen

grâce

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈfeɪvɚ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: favour

Cognate with Danish: favør

Cognate with Irish: fabhar

In summary

From Middle English favour, favor, faver, from Anglo-Norman favour, from mainland Old French favor, from Latin favor (“good will; kindness; partiality”), from faveō (“to be kind to”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂weh₁yeti (“to be favourable to”), from the root Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- (“to shine, glow light”). Respelled in American English to more closely match its Latin etymon. Compare also Danish favør (“favor”), Irish fabhar (“favor”), from the same Romance source.

Sentences

Wyatt wisely withdrew from the chase in favor of a more heavyweight suitor .