preferably

adverb

pref·​er·​a·​bly ˈpre-f(ə-)rə-blē 

also pri-ˈfər-ə-blē

: by choice or preference

—used to indicate what is wanted or preferred

The work should be done soon, preferably by the end of the week.

Applicants should hold a college degree, preferably with teaching experience.

Water thoroughly during the coolest time of day (preferably early morning), then allow soil to dry completely … before watering again.

—Michael MacCaskey

Mound flour on a work surface (preferably wooden) and make a large well in center with your fingertips.

—Lynne Rossetto Kasper

Synonyms of preferably

• rather
• willingly

Examples of preferably in a Sentence

I like football, but preferably watching from the stands rather than being down on the field

Recent Examples on the Web

The advice is nearly always the same — wait until after midnight, preferably until the hours before dawn, then give your eyes half an hour to adjust to the darkness. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Philadelphia is now entering a stretch of games that will demand competence (and preferably excellence) from the offense. — Andy Behrens, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026

In the vlog, Combs noted that his main goal for the hunting trip was to shoot, preferably with a bow, and tag a mature elk. — Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Then fold the quilt up for putting back in storage—preferably in a different configuration so the quilt doesn’t develop creases. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1700, in the meaning defined above