favourite

Meaning

Adj

1. Preferred or liked above all others (unless qualified).
2. Belonging to a category whose members are all preferred or liked over nonmembers.

Noun

1. A person or thing who enjoys special regard or favour.
2. A person who is preferred or trusted above all others.
3. A contestant or competitor thought most likely to win.
4. A bookmark in a web browser.
5. A short curl dangling over the temples, fashionable in the reign of Charles II.

Verb

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

Synonyms

favorite

pet

dear

darling

beloved

favorite

minion

preferred

popular person

ducky

desired

deary

preference

preferent

best-loved

habitual

dearie

accustomed

liked

usual

wonted

favored

front-runner

dearest

special

chosen

welcome

wished

favoured one

sex partner

white-haired

habitual use

favorite food

likely winner

love

❤️

most beloved

favorite singer

favorite band

acquaintance

bonny

bookmark

🔖

certainty

fondest

fondling

friend

in

in demand

in favour

loved

lover

❤️

nurseling

of choice

poppet

popular

precious

preferential

privileged

regular

sultana

sure thing

sweetheart

treasure trove

truelove

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈfeɪv.ɹɪt/

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 favori.