1
a(1)
: friendly regard shown toward another especially by a superior
a politician attempting to keep the favor of the voters
(2)
: approving consideration or attention : approbation
looked with favor on the enterprise
b
: partiality
The students naturally showed favor toward their own team.
c
archaic
: leniency
d
archaic
: permission
e
: popularity
The fad lost favor quickly.
2
3
4
a
: a token of love (such as a ribbon) usually worn conspicuously
b
: a small gift or decorative item given out at a party
c
: badge
5
a
: a special privilege or right granted or conceded
granted a favor to a dear friend
b
: sexual privileges
—usually used in plural
6
archaic
: letter
favored; favoring
ˈfā-v(ə-)riŋ 
1
2
: to show partiality toward : prefer
3
a
: to give support or confirmation to : sustain
b
: to afford advantages for success to : facilitate
good weather favored the outing
4
: to bear a resemblance to
he favors his father
Synonyms
Examples of favor in a Sentence
Noun
I drove her to the airport because I owed her a favor.
She's willing to help you but only as a favor to me.
Don't do me any favors. I don't need your help.
I've learned to be grateful for small favors.
He's trying to earn the boss's favor by working late.
The judge showed favor for the defendant.
The students naturally showed favor toward their own school's team.
Small boxes of candy were given out as favors at the wedding.
Verb
The teacher clearly favors you.
Most voters favor these tax cuts.
Her father favored the idea of her going to law school.
They won the championship last year, and most forecasters favor them to win again this year.
Recent Examples on the Web
Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
For now, the uncertainty in the trajectory of mortgage rates is working in favor of home shoppers like Shelby Rogozhnikov and her husband, Anton.
—Alex Veiga, Quartz, 11 Apr. 2024
And the backlash marked a turning point in PiS’s favor with the public.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
Though Simpson was acquitted, he was later sued by the Brown and Goldman families in a 1997 civil trial; a court decided in their favor, awarding them a liability judgment of $33.5 million.
—Kate Hogan, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
In Trump's favor is his lack of a prior criminal record and the fact that the charges do not involve physical violence or drugs.
—USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Though streaming undoubtedly still poses a threat to movie theaters, the tides appear to be turning ever so slightly in exhibitors’ favor as studios rethink their release strategies and film fanatics continue to splurge on Imax and other premium large formats.
—Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Iranian leaders are exploiting and escalating the war in Gaza to elevate their regime’s stature, weaken and delegitimize Israel, undermine U.S. interests, and further shape the regional order in their favor.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
As negotiations between Hankey and Trump’s representatives were underway, the appellate court ruled in Trump’s favor, lowering the bond to $175 million.
—Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 5 Apr. 2024
Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 15 Apr. 2024
Some residents favored adding apartment homes to the community, while others viewed the possible complex as a burden and safety concern.
—Lux Butler, The Arizona Republic, 15 Apr. 2024
Ultimately, though, the judges favored Flay's potatoes.
—Jessica Rodriguez, Journal Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2024
Don’t waste time arguing when spending your time on personal growth, educational pursuits and self-improvement is favored.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
Last year, the odds strongly favored a veteran insider, and like all its CEOs from the past two decades, not anyone bringing deep experience on the factory floor.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2024
Jim Downey, the comedy writer who oversaw Weekend Update at the time, recalls that superagent Bernie Brillstein was pushing client Bill Maher for the role, while Warren Littlefield, then the president of NBC Entertainment, favored longtime writer Al Franken.
—Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2024
Never mind love: Could good will and favor, the root of gratitude, be bestowed from slave to master?
—Imani Perry Janina Edwards Krish Seenivasan Devin Murphy, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
People favor mid-size cities of about 200,000 residents, with Boston being the most populous of all on the list.
—Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2024
Noun
The offense was spectacular for SMC, but solid tacklers such as Cathal Coakley, John Wilson, Nate Deegan and Matthew Abbes helped force turnovers, something Gael coach Tim O’Brien credited with turning the game in the team’s favor.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
For now, the uncertainty in the trajectory of mortgage rates is working in favor of home shoppers like Shelby Rogozhnikov and her husband, Anton.
—Alex Veiga, Quartz, 11 Apr. 2024
And the backlash marked a turning point in PiS’s favor with the public.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
Though Simpson was acquitted, he was later sued by the Brown and Goldman families in a 1997 civil trial; a court decided in their favor, awarding them a liability judgment of $33.5 million.
—Kate Hogan, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
In Trump's favor is his lack of a prior criminal record and the fact that the charges do not involve physical violence or drugs.
—USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Though streaming undoubtedly still poses a threat to movie theaters, the tides appear to be turning ever so slightly in exhibitors’ favor as studios rethink their release strategies and film fanatics continue to splurge on Imax and other premium large formats.
—Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Iranian leaders are exploiting and escalating the war in Gaza to elevate their regime’s stature, weaken and delegitimize Israel, undermine U.S. interests, and further shape the regional order in their favor.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
As negotiations between Hankey and Trump’s representatives were underway, the appellate court ruled in Trump’s favor, lowering the bond to $175 million.
—Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 5 Apr. 2024
Verb
Although polls generally favor Trump, the latest NPR/PBS/Marist poll released last month showed that if Trump were convicted of a crime, Biden opens a 6% point lead, due largely to independent voters.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 15 Apr. 2024
Some residents favored adding apartment homes to the community, while others viewed the possible complex as a burden and safety concern.
—Lux Butler, The Arizona Republic, 15 Apr. 2024
Ultimately, though, the judges favored Flay's potatoes.
—Jessica Rodriguez, Journal Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2024
Don’t waste time arguing when spending your time on personal growth, educational pursuits and self-improvement is favored.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
Last year, the odds strongly favored a veteran insider, and like all its CEOs from the past two decades, not anyone bringing deep experience on the factory floor.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2024
Jim Downey, the comedy writer who oversaw Weekend Update at the time, recalls that superagent Bernie Brillstein was pushing client Bill Maher for the role, while Warren Littlefield, then the president of NBC Entertainment, favored longtime writer Al Franken.
—Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2024
Never mind love: Could good will and favor, the root of gratitude, be bestowed from slave to master?
—Imani Perry Janina Edwards Krish Seenivasan Devin Murphy, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
People favor mid-size cities of about 200,000 residents, with Boston being the most populous of all on the list.
—Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'favor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to favor
Dictionary Entries Near favor
Cite this Entry
“Favor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/favor. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
favor
1 of 2 noun
fa·vor
ˈfā-vər
1
a
: friendly regard shown toward another
enjoyed the favor of the king
b
: approval
look with favor on a project
c
: partiality sense 1, preference
the judge showed favor to one side
d
: the quality or state of being popular
lose favor
2
: an act of kindness
do a friend a favor
3
: a small gift given out at a party
favor
2 of 2 verb
favored; favoring
ˈfāv-(ə-)riŋ
1
2
3
: to make possible or easy : help to succeed
darkness favored the attack
4
: to look like : resemble
favors his mother
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