favor

FAY-vur/ˈfeɪ.vɚ/UKFAY-vuh/ˈfeɪ.və/

Pluralfavors

Verbfavors, favoring, favored

UK spellingfavour

14 meanings of favor

Practice

1
nouncountable
A kind or helpful thing you choose to do for someone, not for money.
Can you do me a favor and watch my bag for a minute?
She returned the favor by helping him move into his new place.
UsageSay do me a favor (not ~~incorrect: make me a favor~~).
Similarservice
Oppositedisservice
2
verbtransitive
To like, choose, or use someone or something more than the others.
Like always picking your favorite seat when you have a choice.
Voters seem to favor the younger candidate this year.
I favor tea over coffee in the morning.
UsageSay favor tea over coffee, or favored by many people.
Similarprefer, support
Oppositeoppose, reject, dislike
Note
3
approvalnoununcountable
A feeling of approval or kindness toward someone.
Like the warm feeling a teacher has for a hardworking student.
She quickly won the favor of her new boss.
He fell out of favor with the team after the argument.
UsageSay win someone's favor or fall out of favor.
Similarapproval, support, goodwill, esteem, regard
Oppositedisfavor, disapproval, hostility, displeasure
Note
4
make likelyverbtransitive
To help something happen or make it more likely.
Like sunshine and rain helping plants grow well.
Warm, wet weather can favor the spread of disease.
These rules favor faster growth for small businesses.
Similarencourage, promote, facilitate, aid, benefit
Oppositehinder, impede, hamper, inhibit
5
party giftnouncountable
A small gift handed out to guests at a party.
Like a small treat you take home from a party.
Each child took home a favor after the birthday party.
The wedding favor was a little jar of honey.
UsagePeople usually say party favor.
Similargift, giveaway, keepsake, token, memento
Note
6
noununcountable
Unfair support for one side instead of being fair to everyone.
Like a teacher who always takes one student's side, no matter what.
The judge showed favor to one lawyer, which seemed unfair.
They accused the referee of favor toward the home team.
UsageWithout fear or favor means fairly, the same for everyone.
Similarpartiality, bias, favoritism, prejudice, partisanship
Oppositeimpartiality, fairness, neutrality, objectivity
Note

Less common meanings

7
kindly giveverbtransitive
To do something kind or helpful for someone.
Like helping someone just to be kind.
Please favor me with a few minutes of your time.
She favored the new students with a warm welcome.
UsageSay favor someone with a song or a visit. It sounds very polite.
Similaroblige, honor, grace, indulge, treat
8
nounobsoletecountable
The person or thing that someone likes the most.
All these his wondrous works, but chiefly man, / His chief delight and favour.
1667, John Milton, Paradise LostHere, favour means the one he likes most.
Similarfavorite, darling, pet, preference
9
mercynounarchaicuncountable
A softer or lighter punishment than someone might expect.
I could not discover the lenity and favour of this sentence.
1726, [Jonathan Swift], Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. [Gulliver’s Travels]Here, favour means a softer punishment than expected.
Similarleniency, clemency, mercy, indulgence
Oppositeseverity, harshness, rigor, strictness
10
look likeverbtransitive
To look like another person, usually a family member.
Like when a child has the same nose and smile as a parent.
Friends always say she favors her mother.
The two cousins favor each other so much that people mix them up.
UsageSay she favors her mother; takes after is more common in everyday English.
Similarresemble
Note
11
nounhistoricalcountable
A ribbon or small badge worn to mark a special event or to show you support someone.
Like wearing a colored ribbon to show you are part of a special day.
In old stories, a knight wears his lady's favor on his sleeve.
Since the good news young folk—and old, too, for that matter—bedeck themselves with favors. Charms hand pendent from the watch chain, from neck pins.
1900, “From Abroad”, in The InternationalHere, favors means ribbons or small badges worn to celebrate.
Similartoken, ribbon, rosette, badge
Note
12
likenessnounarchaicNorthern Englandcountable
A close likeness between one person and another.
Note
13
letternounarchaiccountable
A letter or written message sent to someone.
I will now take some notice of your last favour; but being so far behind-hand with you, must be brief.
1748, [Samuel Richardson], ClarissaHere, favour means a letter someone sent.
Note
14
nounobsoletecountable
The face or general look of a person.
This boy is fair, of female favour.
c. 1598, William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”Here, favour means face or looks.
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of favor apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

This word came through Middle English and Old French from Latin "favor," meaning good will or kindness, from "faveo," to be kind to.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

English favor came through Middle English and Old French from Latin favor. en.wiktionary.org
Latin favor means good will or kindness. en.wiktionary.org
Latin favor derives from faveo, meaning to be kind to. en.wiktionary.org