Favored

How to spell favored

7 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce favored

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does favored mean?

1. verbPast tense of favor: to have preferred, supported, or shown special kindness toward someone or something.
2. adjectiveRegarded with special preference, approval, or advantage.

Favored in a sentence

• verb

  The committee favored the cheaper proposal after a long debate.

• adjective

  The favored candidate had the backing of every senior partner.

• verb

  Warm weather favored an early harvest this year.

• adjective

  That quiet cafe is her most favored spot for reading.

Where does favored come from?

Language of origin: Latin

This is the American spelling of the past form of 'favor', which traces back to the Latin noun favor, meaning 'goodwill', 'kindness', or 'support'. That noun grew from the verb favere, which literally meant 'to be well disposed toward' or 'to show kindness to'. English took the word in through Old French favour during the 1300s, originally carrying the sense of friendly regard and partiality, and the verb soon followed, meaning to treat someone with special kindness or to prefer them. American English later simplified the inherited -our ending to -or, so the British 'favoured' became 'favored' across the Atlantic. The same Latin favere also lies behind 'favorite', which is why both words keep that single, simple -or in American writing.

How the word is built

• favor (from Latin favor: goodwill, kindness)
• -ed (past tense / past participle suffix)

British and American spelling

Favored is the American spelling. British English spells it favoured.