26984 words

favours

11 definitions • 22 examples
1
the support or approval of something or someone:

Examples:

find favour These plans are unlikely to find favour unless the cost is reduced.
in favour of The Council voted in favour of a £200 million housing development.
out of favour with She is out of favour (= unpopular) with her colleagues.
in favour with Her economic theories are in favour (= popular) with the current government.
win someone's favour He sent her presents in an attempt to win her favour.
2
to support or approve of something:

Examples:

Are you in favour of a ban on smoking?
I'm not in favour of hitting children.
3
When something is in your favour, it gives you an advantage:

Examples:

This candidate has a lot in her favour, especially her experience of teaching.
4
If a judge finds in someone's favour, he or she says that that person is not guilty.
5
a kind action that you do for someone:

Examples:

ask someone for a favour She called to ask me for a favour.
ask a favour The reason (that) I'm calling is to ask a favour.
ask someone a favour Can I ask you a favour?
do someone a favour Could you do me a favour - would you feed my cat this weekend?
6
an advantage that you give to someone, such as money or a good job, especially when this is unfair:

Examples:

dispense a favour Several politicians were accused of dispensing favours to people who voted for them.
7
a small present that you give to every guest at a wedding, party, etc.:

Examples:

wedding favours
8

Examples:

These are the running shoes favoured by marathon runners.
favour something over something In the survey, a majority of people favoured higher taxes and better public services over (= rather than) tax cuts.
[ + -ing verb ] I generally favour travelling by night, when the roads are quiet.
9
to give an advantage to someone or something, in an unfair way:

Examples:

A strong wind will favour the bigger boats.
She always felt that her parents favoured her brother.
10
to protect or avoid using one leg, hand, arm, etc. because it is painful, injured, etc.:

Examples:

He limped slightly, favouring his left leg.
She was leaning against the table to favour her sprained ankle.
11
to look similar to a parent or other relation, or to look more similar to the family of one of your parents than to the family of the other:

Examples:

I had not inherited my father's good looks, but favoured my mother's side of the family.

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