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Definition of 'favor'

favor

(feɪvər )
Word forms: favors, favoring, favoredregional note:   in BRIT, use favour
1. uncountable noun
If you regard something or someone with favor, you like or support them.
It remains to be seen if the show will find favor with an audience.
No one would look with favor on the continuing military rule.
2. countable noun
If you do someone a favor, you do something for them even though you do not have to.
I've come to ask you to do me a favor.
3. transitive verb
If you favor something, you prefer it to the other choices available.
The French say they favor a transition to democracy.
4. transitive verb
If you favor someone, you treat them better or in a kinder way than you treat other people.
The company has no rules about favoring U.S. citizens during layoffs.
5. 
in favor
6. 
in sb's favor
7. 
in sb's favor
8. 
in favor of
9. 
in favor/out of favor
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

favor in American

(ˈfeɪvər ; fāˈvər)
noun
1. 
friendly or kind regard; good will; approval; liking
2. 
unfair partiality; favoritism
3. 
a kind, obliging, friendly, or generous act
to do someone a favor
4.  [pl.]
sexual privileges granted by a woman
5. 
a. 
a small gift, souvenir, or token
b.  Archaic
a token of love, as to a knight from a female admirer
6.  Archaic
a business letter or note
your favor of the 15th June
7.  Archaic
a. 
appearance or look
b. 
face or countenance
8.  Obsolete
attractiveness; charm
verb transitive
9. 
to regard with favor; approve or like
10. 
to be indulgent or too indulgent toward; be partial to; prefer unfairly
11. 
to be for; support; advocate; endorse
12. 
to make easier; help; assist
rain favored his escape
13. 
to do a kindness for
14. 
to look like; resemble in facial features
to favor one's mother
15. 
to use gently; spare
to favor an injured leg
Idioms:
find favor
in favor
in favor of
in someone's favor
out of favor
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
favorer (ˈfavorer)
  noun
Word origin of 'favor'
ME favour < OFr < L favor < favere, to favor < IE base *ghow-, to perceive > OE (ofer) gumian, to neglect, Czech hověti, to take precautions (with), spare

Nearby words of 'favor'

  • favicon
  • favism
  • favonian
  • favor
  • favorable
  • favored
  • favoredness

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'F'

Related Terms of 'favor'

  • favor
  • in favor
  • curry favor
  • find favor
  • in favor of

  • View more related words

Source

Definition of favor from the Collins English Dictionary

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Scrabble score for 'favor': 11
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