favorite
A1Universal across formal, informal, and colloquial registers.
Definition
Meaning
Preferred or liked above all others of the same kind.
A person, thing, or activity that is particularly preferred, cherished, or favored. Also, to mark an online item (e.g., a website, post) for easy future reference.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Functions as adjective, noun, and verb. As an adjective, it often implies a subjective, personal choice. As a noun, it can refer to a person in a privileged position or a competitor expected to win.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: British English uses 'favourite' for noun and adjective. American English uses 'favorite'. The verb meaning ('to bookmark') is primarily digital and uses the spelling of the locale.
Connotations
Identical in connotation. In sports/competition contexts, 'favourite' (UK) / 'favorite' (US) as a noun for the expected winner is standard in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally frequent and core in both varieties, with the spelling difference being the primary distinction.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] be favorite to + INF (She's favorite to win)[NP] favorite of/among + NP (a favorite of the critics)[NP] favorite + NP (my favorite book)[NP] favorite for + NP (the favorite for the award)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Teacher's pet / Teacher's favorite”
- “A sure-fire favorite”
- “Run for favorite son”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in market research ('customer favorites'), product lines ('a brand favorite'), or internal politics ('the CEO's favorite').
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing except in subjective analysis or surveys. More common in informal academic discourse ('my favorite theory').
Everyday
Extremely common for discussing personal preferences in food, media, activities, people, and places.
Technical
In computing/UI contexts, as a verb meaning to bookmark or star an item (e.g., 'favorite this tweet').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I'll favourite that recipe for later.
- Make sure you favourite the post so you can find it.
American English
- I favorited that tweet immediately.
- You can favorite a location on the map app.
adverb
British English
- This dish is a particular favourite of mine.
- It's a popularly favourite holiday spot.
American English
- This is a particular favorite of mine.
- He's a perennially favorite contestant.
adjective
British English
- What's your favourite childhood memory?
- She's my favourite author by far.
American English
- Pizza is my favorite food.
- What's your favorite color?
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My favorite color is blue.
- This is my favorite book.
- What is your favorite sport?
- Chocolate ice cream has always been a personal favorite.
- The home team is the clear favorite to win the championship.
- I can't decide on a single favorite film.
- The novel, a longtime favorite of literary critics, is being reissued.
- Against all odds, the underdog defeated the heavy favorite.
- She quickly favorited the article for her research folder.
- His policies made him a favorite among the party's traditional base.
- The director's latest work is unlikely to supplant his earlier masterpiece as the critics' favorite.
- The algorithm promotes content that users have favorited in the past.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
FAVOR + ITE: Think of giving your FAVOR to the one ITEM you like most.
Conceptual Metaphor
PREFERENCE IS A HIERARCHY (top of the list), PREFERENCE IS POSSESSION (my favorite).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating 'favorite' as 'любимый' in all contexts; for the 'expected winner' sense, use 'фаворит'.
- The verb 'to favorite' (digital) does not have a direct one-word Russian equivalent; use 'добавить в избранное' or 'отметить как избранное'.
- The adjective 'favorite' does not agree in number/case with the noun it modifies in English, unlike Russian adjectives.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling confusion between 'favorite' (US) and 'favourite' (UK) in international contexts.
- Using 'the most favorite' (double superlative); correct is 'my favorite' or 'the most popular'.
- Overusing as a noun without an article (e.g., 'He is favorite') instead of 'He is *the* favorite'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following uses 'favorite' as a verb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are correct. 'Favourite' is the British English spelling. 'Favorite' is the American English spelling. The choice depends on your intended audience or variety of English.
Yes, especially in digital contexts. It means to save or bookmark an item (like a tweet, webpage, or location) for easy access later, analogous to marking it as a favorite.
'Favorite' is more subjective and emotionally charged, often implying a top choice among many. 'Preferred' is slightly more formal and can indicate a choice based on practicality or suitability as much as personal liking.
'Favorite' is already a superlative concept (meaning 'most liked'). Using 'most' with it creates a grammatical redundancy called a double superlative. The correct forms are 'my favorite' or 'the most popular/liked'.