favour
favour — noun
1. a feeling or public expression of support, approval, or positive regard for a pe
a feeling or public expression of support, approval, or positive regard for a person, group, or idea
The mayor won the favour of local businesses by lowering their taxes.
won the favour of — gained support from
The new policy found favour among teachers because it reduced their paperwork.
found favour among — was approved by
Soraya nodded her head as a sign of favour toward the proposal.
The public's favour shifted away from the ruling party after the scandal broke.
- win favour
- find favour with
- in favour
- show favour
- lose favour
- approval
more formal; focuses on official or public acceptance
- backing
emphasises active, often material, support
- endorsement
formal public declaration of support
- disapproval
the opposite of approval or positive regard
- opposition
active resistance against someone or something
Grammar Patterns
in favour
find favour with
show favour to
Usage Note
Uncountable when referring to support or approval as a general concept. The expression 'in favour' means 'supported or approved' and is very common in both formal and informal contexts.
Common Mistakes
2. the state of actively supporting a particular plan, person, or course of action,
the state of actively supporting a particular plan, person, or course of action, especially when choices are being made
Most committee members were in favour of building a new library in the town centre.
in favour of — actively supporting a proposal
Ryo voted in favour of the motion to increase the school budget.
voted in favour of — cast a supporting vote
The judge decided in favour of the tenant in the rent dispute.
Several members spoke in favour of the plan before the final vote.
spoke in favour of — expressed public support
Sumin turned down the job offer in favour of a position closer to home.
in favour of — choosing one option over another
- in favour of
- vote in favour of
- speak in favour of
- decide in favour of
- argue in favour of
- supporting
more direct; 'support' can be used in the same contexts
- in support of
slightly more formal, same meaning
- against
the opposite of supporting a proposal
- opposed to
formal expression of being against something
Grammar Patterns
be in favour of [something]
in favour of [doing something]
Usage Note
Always appears in the fixed phrase 'in favour of'. The phrase can express support ('voted in favour of') or preference/chosen alternative ('rejected X in favour of Y'). Distinguish from noun sense 3 'in your favour', which means 'giving you an advantage'.
Common Mistakes
3. a situation or set of conditions that gives one person or group a better chance
a situation or set of conditions that gives one person or group a better chance of success than others
The wind was in our favour during the sailing race across the lake.
in our favour — conditions helping us
The referee's decision went in favour of the home team, which upset the visitors.
went in favour of — decision that benefits
Lotte got promoted right after finishing her degree — the timing worked in her favour.
worked in her favour — circumstances helped someone
The strong economy tipped the election in favour of the current government.
- in your favour
- work in favour of
- rule in favour of
- count in favour of
- the odds in favour of
- disadvantage
a condition that works against someone
- against
when conditions are not in your favour
Grammar Patterns
in [somebody's] favour
in favour of [somebody]
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 2 ('in favour of' — supporting a proposal). In this sense, the phrase 'in X's favour' describes a condition or decision that benefits someone, not their opinion. Common expressions: 'rule in favour of', 'the odds are in your favour', 'count in your favour'.
Common Mistakes
4. a court's judgment that one side in a legal case has the stronger argument and h
a court's judgment that one side in a legal case has the stronger argument and has won the case
The Supreme Court found in favour of the factory workers, awarding them full compensation.
found in favour of — court ruled for someone
Esteban's lawyer was confident the judge would rule in favour of his client.
The tribunal ruled in favour of the defendant, rejecting the appeal against the original decision.
ruled in favour of — standard legal phrasing for a favourable judgment
A judgment in favour of the landlord set a new standard for lease disputes.
judgment in favour of — formal legal outcome
- find in favour of
- rule in favour of
- judgment in favour of
- decide in favour of
Grammar Patterns
find in favour of
judgment in favour of
rule in favour of
Usage Note
In legal contexts, 'favour' in the phrase 'in favour of' is uncountable and always singular. The verb 'find' in legal English means 'to decide or declare formally'. Common in court reports and legal news.
Common Mistakes
5. something helpful you freely do for another person, asked or unasked, without be
something helpful you freely do for another person, asked or unasked, without being paid for it
Christopher did his neighbour a favour by watering her plants while she was away.
did his neighbour a favour — performed a helpful act
Could you do me a favour and hold the door open for a moment?
Aylin asked her colleague a small favour: could she borrow his notebook for the afternoon?
asked a favour of — requested help from
I owe you a favour for helping me move the furniture last weekend.
owe you a favour — feel grateful and willing to help back
When Tara returned from holiday, she returned the favour by bringing gifts for everyone.
returned the favour — helped someone because they helped you
- do someone a favour
- ask a favour
- return a favour
- owe a favour
- do me a favour
- disservice
an action that causes harm or inconvenience
Grammar Patterns
do [somebody] a favour
ask a favour
return a favour
Usage Note
This is the most common everyday sense of 'favour'. The phrase 'do me/us a favour' is also used ironically in British English to express disbelief or annoyance ('Do me a favour — he never said that!'). Countable: one favour, two favours.
Common Mistakes
6. special treatment — money, jobs, or chances — given to somebody while others rec
special treatment — money, jobs, or chances — given to somebody while others receive less, which creates the appearance of unfairness
The manager was accused of showing favour to his friends when assigning the best projects.
showing favour to — giving unfair advantage
Lucía complained that the scholarships were awarded with favour rather than on merit.
awarded with favour — given based on personal bias
The company's promotion process was designed to operate without fear or favour.
without fear or favour — fairly, without bias
Critics said the tax cut showed favour toward large corporations over small businesses.
- show favour
- with favour
- without fear or favour
- bestow favour
- bias
stronger negative connotation; a systematic prejudice
- favouritism
the noun for the practice of treating some people better than others unfairly
- partiality
formal term for unfair preference
- fairness
treating everyone equally without bias
- impartiality
formal; not favouring any side
Grammar Patterns
show favour to
with favour
without fear or favour
Usage Note
This sense carries a negative or critical tone — it implies the advantage is undeserved or the process is dishonest. The fixed expression 'without fear or favour' (meaning 'completely fairly') is the only positive use of this sense.
Common Mistakes
7. a token present given to everybody at a wedding or celebration as a "thank-you"
a token present given to everybody at a wedding or celebration as a "thank-you" for coming
Each guest received a small box of chocolates as a party favour at the wedding.
party favour — small gift at a celebration
Shirin spent the weekend making handmade soaps to use as wedding favours.
wedding favours — gifts given to wedding guests
The children's party favours included a small toy and a bag of sweets.
Lucas placed a favour with a ribbon tied around it at each guest's seat.
Instead of party favours, the hosts donated money to a local charity.
- party favour
- wedding favour
- favour bag
- favour box
- give out favours
Grammar Patterns
party favour
wedding favour
Usage Note
Especially common in wedding and children's party planning. Often used in the plural 'favours' when referring to the gifts collectively. In American English, 'party favor' is spelled without the 'u'.
do someone a favour
idiomused informally as a short exclamation to express disbelief, annoyance, or the feeling that something is unlikely or ridiculous
Oliver said he would run a marathon in under two hours. Do me a favour — he cannot even jog to the end of the street!
The manager promised everyone a bonus this year. Oh, do me a favour — they never keep their promises.
to try to make someone like or support you by praising them or doing things for them, often in a way that seems false
The new intern tried to curry favour with the boss by bringing him coffee every morning.
Politicians often curry favour with voters by promising lower taxes before an election.
acting in a completely fair and honest way, without being influenced by personal feelings or the desire to please anyone
The judge promised to examine the case without fear or favour.
A good referee must apply the rules without fear or favour.
You have a good chance of success because the situation gives you an advantage.
With her experience and skills, the odds are stacked in Maya's favour.
The cards are stacked in your favour if you prepare well for the exam.
do me a favour!
idiomUsed to show that you think a question or suggestion is silly or unreasonable.
Do me a favour! You think I'd believe that story?
‘Will he finish on time?’ ‘Do me a favour! He's always late.’
To do something that is not helpful to someone or that makes them look bad.
By always agreeing with him, you're doing him no favours.
The director's harsh review did the young actor no favours.
Supporting or agreeing with someone or something.
Most committee members are in favour of the new policy.
The judge ruled in favour of the defendant.
in somebody’s favour
idiomGiving someone an advantage or helping them succeed.
The referee's decision was in our favour.
The final score was 3-1, so the match went in Diego's favour.
favour — verb
1. to choose or support one option, person, or side over others because you think i
to choose or support one option, person, or side over others because you think it is better or more suitable
Most parents favour schools that have smaller class sizes and better teachers.
favour [something] — choose one option as better
Eitan favoured the blue sofa over the grey one because it was more comfortable.
favoured X over Y — expressed preference between options
The committee favoured investing in renewable energy rather than fossil fuels.
Élise favours working from home because it saves her two hours of travel each day.
When choosing a restaurant, the group favoured the one with the outdoor terrace.
- favour over
- favour...rather than
- strongly favour
- generally favour
- tend to favour
- prefer
slightly stronger sense of personal choice; can take infinitive ('prefer to do')
- lean towards
more tentative; indicates a gentle preference
- advocate
stronger; means to publicly support a cause or policy
Grammar Patterns
favour + noun phrase
favour + [gerund]
favour + noun over + noun
Usage Note
Less strong than 'prefer' — 'favour' implies a leaning rather than a firm decision. Often used in voting, selection, and opinion contexts. The construction 'favour X over Y' is the most common pattern for expressing comparison.
Common Mistakes
2. to give one person or group better treatment than others, especially when this i
to give one person or group better treatment than others, especially when this is unfair or undeserved
Teachers should not favour any student over the others in the classroom.
favour [someone] over [someone] — treat one person better unfairly
Sahil felt the team captain favoured the older players during practice matches.
The wealthy donors were favoured by the university when it came to scholarship decisions.
favoured by — passive construction, the receiver of bias
Amihan complained that the system favoured people who already had connections.
Critics argued the law favoured large companies over small family businesses.
favoured over — comparing two groups receiving different treatment
- favour over
- clearly favour
- unfairly favour
- favour...at the expense of
- show favouritism to
more explicit about the unfairness involved
- bias toward
stronger negative connotation; prejudice
- privilege
to give special rights or advantages to someone
- discriminate against
the opposite of favouring someone — treating them worse
- neglect
to fail to give proper attention to someone
Grammar Patterns
favour + noun
be favoured
favour [someone] over [someone]
Usage Note
This sense often carries a negative judgment — the speaker believes the treatment is undeserved. Compare with verb sense 1 (PREFER), where the choice is based on legitimate reasons. This sense is frequently used in discussions about discrimination, nepotism, and bias.
Common Mistakes
3. to avoid using or putting weight on an injured part of the body, such as a leg,
to avoid using or putting weight on an injured part of the body, such as a leg, arm, or foot, so that it can heal
Lucas was favouring his right ankle after twisting it during the football match.
favouring [body part] — protecting an injury
Tanvi walked slowly, favouring her left knee where she had surgery last month.
The old man favoured his back whenever he bent down to pick something up.
Naoko favoured her right hand all week after burning it on the stove.
- favour a leg
- favour an arm
- favour an ankle
- favour a knee
- favour a shoulder
Grammar Patterns
favour + body part
Usage Note
Primarily used in British English for body parts. In American English, 'favor' is also used but 'protect' or 'avoid using' are more common. The object is always a body part (knee, ankle, wrist, back, hand, etc.).
Common Mistakes
4. to share the looks of an older family member such as a parent, especially favour
to share the looks of an older family member such as a parent, especially favouring one side of the family over the other
People often say that Jude favours his mother because they have the same smile.
favours his mother — looks like his mother
The baby girl favours her father with those bright blue eyes and dark hair.
Yuna definitely favours the Tanaka side of the family — she has her grandmother's nose.
Pim favours his uncle more than his father, especially when he smiles.
- favour one's mother
- favour one's father
- favour the...side of the family
- take after
more common in American English; can also cover personality, not just looks
- resemble
more formal and neutral; works for any comparison, human or non-human
- differ from
to look different from a family member
Grammar Patterns
favour + family member
Usage Note
This sense is informal and used mainly in British and Irish English. In American English, 'take after' is far more common for physical resemblance. This sense never takes the passive voice and is not used with non-human subjects.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- favourableadjectiveB1
- favourablyadverbB2
- favouriteadjectiveA1
- favouritenounA2
- favouritismnounC1
- unfavourableadjectiveB2
- unfavourablyadverbC1
- favouredadjectiveB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
These four words sit along a scale of commitment. 'Lean towards' is the softest — you have a slight preference but are open to changing your mind ('I'm leaning towards the chicken dish'). 'Favour' is a step firmer: you actively support something as better, though your choice may not be final ('The committee favours hiring locally'). 'Prefer' is more personal and decisive — you state your individual choice ('I prefer coffee to tea'). 'Advocate' is the strongest: you publicly argue for a cause or policy ('She advocates for better mental health services in schools'). In everyday speech, 'prefer' is the most neutral; 'advocate' carries a sense of campaigning. Use 'favour' when you want to express a positive leaning that is not yet a firm commitment.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'favour' entered English through Old French 'faveur', which came from Latin 'favor' meaning 'goodwill, kindness, inclination'. The Latin root 'favere' meant 'to be well disposed toward, to show kindness to'. The spelling with '-our' (favour) is standard in British English, while American English uses 'favor'. The sense of 'resembling a parent' (verb sense 4) developed in the 16th century from the idea of 'looking like someone who shows you favour' or 'bearing the mark of a family's favour'. The 'party gift' meaning (noun sense 7) emerged in the 20th century.