fa·vor (f v r)n.1. A gracious, friendly, or obliging act that is freely granted: do someone a favor. 2. a. Friendly or favorable regard; approval or support: won the favor of the monarch; looked with favor on the plan. b. A state of being held in such regard: a style currently in favor. 3. Unfair partiality; favoritism. 4. a. A privilege or concession. b. favors Sexual privileges, especially as granted by a woman. 5. a. Something given as a token of love, affection, or remembrance. b. A small decorative gift given to each guest at a party. 6. Advantage; benefit: sailed under favor of cloudless skies. 7. Behalf; interest: an error in our favor. 8. Obsolete A communication, especially a letter. 9. Archaic a. Aspect or appearance. b. Countenance; face. 10. Obsolete A facial feature. v. fa·vored, fa·vor·ing, fa·vors v.tr.1. To perform a kindness or service for; oblige. See Synonyms at oblige. 2. To treat or regard with friendship, approval, or support. 3. To be partial to; indulge a liking for: favors bright colors. 4. To be or tend to be in support of. 5. To make easier or more possible; facilitate: Darkness favored their escape. 6. To treat with care; be gentle with: favored my wounded leg. 7. Chiefly Southern U.S. To resemble in appearance: She favors her father. v.intr. Chiefly Southern U.S. To resemble another in appearance: She and her father favor. Idiom: in favor of1. In support of; approving: We are in favor of her promotion to president. 2. To the advantage of: The court decided in favor of the plaintiff. 3. Inscribed or made out to the benefit of: a check in favor of a charity.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin, from fav re, to be favorable.]
fa vor·er n. fa vor·ing·ly adv. Regional Note: When a Southerner favors a relative, he or she is not giving that person special privileges; rather, the Southerner looks like that relative. Favor can be either transitive She favors her father or intransitive with a compound subject: She and her father favor. This sense of favor goes back to early modern English: "This young lord Chamont/Favors my mother" (Ben Jonson). The verb derives from the noun favor, which was used from the 15th to the 19th century to mean "appearance, aspect; the countenance, face": "What makes thy favor like the bloodless head/Fall'n on the block?" (Tennyson). This sense of the noun is now archaic, but the verb thrives in the English of the Southern United States. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. | favor - an act of gracious kindness | | 2. | favor - an advantage to the benefit of someone or something; "the outcome was in his favor"advantage, vantage - the quality of having a superior or more favorable position; "the experience gave him the advantage over me" | | 3. | favor - an inclination to approve; "that style is in favor this season"inclination, tendency, disposition - an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others; "he had an inclination to give up too easily"; "a tendency to be too strict" | | 4. | favor - a feeling of favorable regardapproval - a feeling of liking something or someone good; "although she fussed at them, she secretly viewed all her children with approval" | | 5. | favor - souvenir consisting of a small gift given to a guest at a partycracker bonbon, snapper, cracker - a party favor consisting of a paper roll (usually containing candy or a small favor) that pops when pulled at both ends | | Verb | 1. | favor - promote over another; "he favors his second daughter"elevate, kick upstairs, promote, upgrade, advance, raise - give a promotion to or assign to a higher position; "John was kicked upstairs when a replacement was hired"; "Women tend not to advance in the major law firms"; "I got promoted after many years of hard work" advantage - give an advantage to; "This system advantages the rich" | | 2. | favor - consider as the favorite; "The local team was favored"consider, regard, view, reckon, see - deem to be; "She views this quite differently from me"; "I consider her to be shallow"; "I don't see the situation quite as negatively as you do" | | 3. | favor - treat gently or carefully | | 4. | favor - bestow a privilege uponcountenance, permit, allow, let - consent to, give permission; "She permitted her son to visit her estranged husband"; "I won't let the police search her basement"; "I cannot allow you to see your exam" |
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