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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026fa•vor /ˈfeɪvɚ/USA pronunciation n.
- something done or granted out of goodwill;
a kind act:[countable]to ask a favor of me.
- goodwill;
friendly regard;
approval:[uncountable]I wanted to win her favor.
- special or preferential treatment;
partiality:[uncountable]The professor showed favor to certain students.
- a small gift or decorative item:[countable]a party favor.
- Usually, favors. [plural] sexual intimacy, esp. as permitted by a woman.
v. [~ + object]
- to regard with favor;
approve;
sanction:How many favor Smith's proposal?
- to prefer;
treat with partiality:The girl thought her father favored her sister.
- to show favor to;
oblige:[~ + object (+ with + object)]Will you favor us with a reply?
- to be favorable to;
make easier:The wind favored their journey.
- to treat or use gently:favors her sprained ankle.
- to aid or support:They favored the party's cause.
- to bear a physical resemblance to:He tends to favor his mother's family.
Idioms
- Idioms find favor with, [~ + object] to gain the approval of;
be liked by:The play found favor with the critics.
- Idioms in favor of:
- on the side of;
in support of:in favor of aid to education.
- to the advantage of:She transferred out of a big college in favor of the smaller one in her neighborhood.
- Idioms in one's favor, to one's credit or advantage:comments made in your favor.
- Idioms out of favor, no longer liked or approved of:fashions now out of favor.
Also, [esp. Brit.,] ˈfa•vour.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026fa•vor
(fā′vər),USA pronunciation n.
- something done or granted out of goodwill, rather than from justice or for remuneration;
a kind act:to ask a favor.
- friendly or well-disposed regard;
goodwill:to win the favor of the king.
- the state of being approved or held in regard:to be in favor at court; styles that are now in favor.
- excessive kindness or unfair partiality;
preferential treatment:to treat some people with favor and others with neglect.
- a gift bestowed as a token of goodwill, kind regard, love, etc., as formerly upon a knight by his lady.
- a ribbon, badge, etc., worn in evidence of goodwill or loyalty, as by an adherent of a political party.
- a small gift or decorative or festive item, as a noisemaker or paper hat, often distributed to guests at a party.
- Usually, favors. sexual intimacy, esp. as permitted by a woman.
- [Archaic.]a letter, esp. a commercial one.
- Idioms find favor with, to gain the favor of;
be liked by:The play found favor with the opening-night audience.
- Idioms in favor of:
- on the side of;
in support of:to be in favor of reduced taxation.
- to the advantage of.
- (of a check, draft, etc.) payable to:Make out your checks in favor of the corporation.
- Idioms in one's favor, to one's credit or advantage:All the comments were in your favor.
- Idioms out of favor, no longer liked or approved;
no longer popular or fashionable:He's out of favor with the president and may soon be fired.
v.t.
- to regard with favor:to favor an enterprise.
- to prefer;
treat with partiality:The father favored his younger son.
- to show favor to;
oblige:The king favored him with an audience.
- to be favorable to;
facilitate:The wind favored their journey.
- to deal with, treat, or use gently:to favor a lame leg.
- to aid or support:He favored his party's cause with ample funds.
- to bear a physical resemblance to;
resemble:to favor one's father's side of the family.
Also,[esp. Brit.,] favour.
- Latin favōr- (stem of favor) goodwill, equivalent. to fav(ēre) to be favorably inclined + -ōr- -or1
- Anglo-French, Old French
- Middle English favo(u)r 1250–1300
2. Favor, goodwill imply a kindly regard or friendly disposition shown by an individual or group. Favor may be merely an attitude of mind:to look with favor on a proposal.Goodwill is more active and leads often to outward manifestations of friendly approval:By frequent applause the audience showed its goodwill toward the speaker. 5. present. 14. approve, countenance, sanction. 16. encourage, patronize. 19. help, assist.
2. animosity, malice. 14. disapprove.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026fa•vour
(fā′vər),USA pronunciation n., v.t. [Chiefly Brit.]
- British Termsfavor.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
favour, US favor /ˈfeɪvə/ n - an approving attitude; good will
- an act performed out of good will, generosity, or mercy
- prejudice and partiality; favouritism
- a condition of being regarded with approval or good will (esp in the phrases in favour, out of favour)
- a token of love, goodwill, etc
- a small gift or toy given to a guest at a party
- a badge or ribbon worn or given to indicate loyalty, often bestowed on a knight by a lady
- find favour with ⇒ to be approved of by someone
- in favour of ⇒
- approving
- to the benefit of
- (of a cheque, etc) made out to
- in order to show preference for
vb (transitive)- to regard with especial kindness or approval
- to treat with partiality or favouritism
- to support; advocate
- to perform a favour for; oblige
- to help; facilitate
- informal to resemble: he favours his father
- to wear habitually: she favours red
- to treat gingerly or with tenderness; spare: a footballer favouring an injured leg
Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin, from favēre to protectˈfavourer, US ˈfavorer n
'favor' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
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