favor
favor — noun
1. a positive feeling toward a person or thing that makes you support or approve of
a positive feeling toward a person or thing that makes you support or approve of them
Jisoo has always been in favor of stricter environmental laws.
in favor of — supporting or approving
The proposal quickly gained favor with several board members.
gain favor with — earn approval from
Otis tried to win the favor of his new boss by working late every evening.
Public favor for the new education plan has grown steadily this year.
- win favor
- gain favor
- lose favor
- find favor
- in favor of
- curry favor with
- disfavor
direct opposite; lack of approval or liking
- disapproval
stronger negative judgment
Grammar Patterns
favor + among/with
in favor (of someone/something)
Usage Note
Often appears in fixed phrases such as 'in favor of' (supporting) and 'find favor with' (be approved by). The sense is typically uncountable.
Common Mistakes
2. something kind that you do for another person to help them
something kind that you do for another person to help them
Could you do me a favor and carry this box upstairs?
do someone a favor — perform a kind helpful act
Niran asked his neighbor for a small favor — feeding the cat while he traveled.
As a favor to her friend, Salma agreed to pick up the children from school.
Andrei did me a huge favor by lending me his truck for the weekend move.
do someone a favor by + gerund
I still owe Lucía a favor after she helped me move to the new apartment.
owe someone a favor — feel gratitude with expectation to return
- do someone a favor
- ask a favor
- owe a favor
- return a favor
- do a favor for
- disservice
a harmful or unhelpful action
Grammar Patterns
do someone a favor
ask a favor (of someone)
owe someone a favor
Usage Note
Common in fixed expressions like 'do me a favor,' 'ask a favor,' and 'return a favor.' Often used in polite requests ('Do me a favor and…').
Common Mistakes
3. a condition or position that is to someone's advantage or benefit
a condition or position that is to someone's advantage or benefit
The exchange rate worked in our favor during the trip to Japan.
in one's favor — to someone's advantage
The judge's final decision was in favor of the tenant in the housing dispute.
in favor of — ruling for a particular side
Eitan argued strongly in favor of the new tax proposal at the meeting.
The score was three to one, so the game was clearly in Christopher's favor.
Everything seems to be turning in the company's favor this quarter.
turn in someone's favor — situation becomes advantageous
- in favor of
- in one's favor
- rule in favor of
- decide in favor of
- disadvantage
a condition that works against someone
Grammar Patterns
in someone's favor
in favor of something
Usage Note
Nearly always appears in fixed prepositional phrases such as 'in favor of' and 'in someone's favor.' Rarely used as a standalone noun for this meaning.
4. a small present handed out to guests at a celebration or gathering
a small present handed out to guests at a celebration or gathering
Each child received a small favor at the end of the birthday party.
party favor — small gift for guests
Sana filled little bags with candies as wedding favors for the guests.
wedding favor — gift given at a wedding
The company printed its logo on pens and gave them out as promotional favors.
Party favors for the baby shower included scented candles and small soaps.
- party favor
- wedding favor
- birthday favor
- promotional favor
Grammar Patterns
favor + as a gift
party favor
wedding favor
Usage Note
Typically used in compound nouns such as 'party favor' or 'wedding favor.' The item is usually small and inexpensive, often with decorative or symbolic value.
favor — verb
1. to show greater liking or support for someone or something compared with others
to show greater liking or support for someone or something compared with others
The coach favors younger players who can run faster on the field.
favor + noun phrase (person) — show preference for
Many voters favor candidates who promise to improve public schools.
The selection committee favored applicants with international experience.
Michael favored the left route because it had fewer traffic lights.
Natural materials are often favored over synthetic ones in modern architecture.
be favored over — passive form showing comparison
- favor over
- strongly favor
- tend to favor
- prefer
more neutral; indicates choice without implying unfairness
- like better
less formal; purely personal preference
- single out
emphasizes giving special attention to one among many
Grammar Patterns
favor + noun phrase (person or thing)
be favored over + noun phrase
Usage Note
Can carry a neutral meaning (prefer) or a slightly negative one (show unfair bias). The passive form 'be favored over' is common in both written and spoken English.
Common Mistakes
2. to give someone something nice or do something special for them as a kind gestur
to give someone something nice or do something special for them as a kind gesture
The singer favored the audience with an encore performance after the show.
favor + someone + with + something — formal kind gesture
Professor Okafor favored the students with a visit to his private library.
Amani favored her younger sister with a seat by the window on the bus.
The director favored the intern with an invitation to the strategy meeting.
- favor with
- favor someone with a response
- favor someone with a visit
Grammar Patterns
favor + someone + with + something
Usage Note
Almost always used in the pattern 'favor someone with something.' This sense carries a formal tone and is less common in everyday casual speech.
3. to protect an injured or painful part of the body by using it as little as possi
to protect an injured or painful part of the body by using it as little as possible
After twisting his ankle, Otis favored his right leg while walking.
favor + body part — use an injured body part gently
The nurse told him to favor his injured shoulder for at least one week.
Mauricio favored his sore wrist by using his left hand to carry the groceries.
The runner favored his left knee during the final lap of the race.
Eitan favored his bruised ribs by sleeping on his back all night.
- favor a leg
- favor an arm
- favor a shoulder
- favor an injured limb
Grammar Patterns
favor + body part
favor + injured + noun phrase
Usage Note
Distinguish from verb sense 1: this meaning is specific to body parts, not people or things. The object is always a part of the body that has been hurt or is causing pain.
4. to make it easier for something to happen or to succeed
to make it easier for something to happen or to succeed
Warm weather favors the growth of rice plants in the region.
favor + noun phrase — environmental conditions that help
Low interest rates favor people who want to buy a house.
The new policy favors small businesses by reducing their tax burden.
Good soil and enough rain favored the harvest this year.
A quiet environment favors deep concentration while studying.
favor + activity — describing conditions that help
- favor growth
- favor development
- conditions favor
- policy favors
- support
broader; can refer to both people and conditions
- help
less formal; more general
- promote
more active; suggests deliberately encouraging growth or success
- facilitate
more formal; emphasizes making a process easier
- hinder
to make something more difficult
- discourage
to make something less likely to happen
Grammar Patterns
favor + noun phrase (conditions, outcomes)
Usage Note
Subject is usually a condition, policy, or environmental factor rather than a person. Distinguish from verb sense 1 (SHOW PREFERENCE), which involves personal choice; this sense describes circumstances that create an advantage.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/2
A favor is a specific helpful act you do for someone, often with the expectation that they might return it later ('I owe you a favor'). Kindness is broader — it describes both a single act and a gentle, caring character ('She showed kindness to everyone'). Service can be a favor but often implies a formal or professional duty ('He performed a service for the community'). A good deed focuses on the moral value of the action ('Her good deed was noticed by the principal'). Use 'favor' when asking directly for help ('Do me a favor'); use 'kindness' when describing someone's generous nature; use 'good deed' when emphasizing the ethical worth of the act.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'favor' comes from Latin 'favor' meaning 'good will, kindness,' which grew out of the verb 'favere' meaning 'to be well disposed toward.' It entered English through Old French 'faveur' around the 1300s. The meaning has expanded over time from personal good will to include concrete acts of kindness, advantageous conditions, and small gifts — all tied to the core idea of being favorably inclined toward someone or something.