as in rather
by choice or preference
I like football, but preferably watching from the stands rather than being down on the field
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Recent Examples of preferably
But for a team like the Sky seeking backcourt players — preferably lengthy wings with playmaking ability — there’s a sizable drop-off between the second and third picks.
—
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025
Typically, lenders prefer borrowers to have a DTI ratio under 50%, and preferably 43% or less.
Benefits and discounts
Bank of America offers a variety of assistance for both first-time and repeat homebuyers.
—Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2025
Workers displaced from fossil fuel industries find new jobs elsewhere, preferably in clean energy industries, while carbon emissions from hard-to-electrify sectors like cement and steel production are captured and stored underground.
—Aldo Flores-Quiroga, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025
For looking at the night sky, choose at least 10x42, preferably 10x50, which keeps the magnification low enough to easily navigate the night sky while allowing enough light in at night.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for preferably 
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025
Typically, lenders prefer borrowers to have a DTI ratio under 50%, and preferably 43% or less.
Benefits and discounts
Bank of America offers a variety of assistance for both first-time and repeat homebuyers.
—Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2025
Workers displaced from fossil fuel industries find new jobs elsewhere, preferably in clean energy industries, while carbon emissions from hard-to-electrify sectors like cement and steel production are captured and stored underground.
—Aldo Flores-Quiroga, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025
For looking at the night sky, choose at least 10x42, preferably 10x50, which keeps the magnification low enough to easily navigate the night sky while allowing enough light in at night.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for preferably
Thesaurus Entries Near preferably
Cite this Entry
“Preferably.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preferably. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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