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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In 2015, a Portuguese court ruled in their favor, ordering Amaral to pay them damages. Reuters, NBC News, 20 Sep. 2022 But far from conceding that the war isn’t going in his favor on all fronts, Mr. Putin is preparing to deliver a firm response and raise the stakes for Kyiv. Evan Gershkovich, WSJ, 20 Sep. 2022 Byrd forced and recovered a fumble on a strip sack of Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener that helped USC turn momentum in its favor during the third quarter.Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2022 Democrats have seen a major trend in their favor in the 5th District — a one-time Republican stronghold where Democrats have dominated since a young Chris Murphy defeated longtime Republican U.S. Rep. Nancy Johnson in a major upset in 2006. Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2022 The clock wasn’t in their favor, and Cleveland’s frothing home crowd was making things harder. Tom Withers, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2022 With one vote in his favor, Cruz would be sentenced to life in prison. Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 17 Sep. 2022 There was some kind of divine intervention there in my favor. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2022 Your astute take on a situation demanding a quick response is going to work very much in your favor by the 28th. Katharine Merlin, Town & Country, 16 Sep. 2022
Verb
Nervous investors who want safe, boring assets when the stock market is a mess don’t favor just gold. Hardika Singh, WSJ, 19 Sep. 2022 An eight-in-10, bipartisan majority of voters would like to see the next secretary of state — who would be appointed by the governor — make election rules that are neutral toward both parties, and not favor either one. Anthony Salvanto, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus, CBS News, 14 Sep. 2022 At a debate, Dixon was the only candidate who did not favor large cuts to higher education, saying Michigan's public universities are an important key to the state's success. Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, 30 July 2022 Yet some Afro-German activists and scholars do not favor removing the word.Wired, 14 July 2022 Some experts believe interest rates for debt could rise 200 to 300 basis points, which would not favor borrowers. Adam Finkel, Forbes, 6 July 2022 Yeah, because Ohioans do not favor that any poll that’s ever been done. Laura Johnston, cleveland, 27 June 2022 Republican lawmakers tend to favor lower taxes, particularly for wealthy Americans. German Lopez, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Aug. 2022 Ad spending in categories like technology, streaming and finance is facing more pressure than categories like luxury and entertainment, which tend to favor print, Ms. Kopit Levien said during the call. Alexandra Bruell, WSJ, 3 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin, from favēre to be favorable; perhaps akin to Old High German gouma attention, Old Church Slavonic gověti to revere
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)