favourite

The one you like more than all the others.

• Blue is my favourite colour.
• What is your favourite song?
• We visited her favourite restaurant.

Similar words: best-loved, preferred

Opposites: least favourite

Common phrases: favourite food, favourite book, favourite colour, favourite song

Loved or enjoyed, even if other people or things are loved too.

• She kept several favourite childhood toys.
• We sang some old favourite songs.
• He reread a favourite story from his childhood.

Similar words: beloved, cherished, well-loved

Common phrases: old favourite song, favourite childhood toy

A person or thing that someone likes or trusts more than others.

• This cake is my favourite.
• Which of these films is your favourite?
• The teacher tries not to have favourites.

How to use it: a favourite of someone (She is a favourite of our teacher.)

Similar words: first choice

Common phrases: my favourite, a firm favourite, someone’s favourite

The person or team that people think is most likely to win.

• Our team is the favourite.
• The favourite lost the race.
• Who is the favourite to win this year?

How to use it: favourite to do something (She is the favourite to win the race.); favourite for something (Our team is the favourite for the title.)

Similar words: front-runner

Opposites: underdog

Common phrases: clear favourite, favourite to win, odds-on favourite

A person a king or queen especially likes and trusts.

• The king rewarded his favourite.
• She became a royal favourite.
• Several court favourites received land from the queen.

How to use it: a favourite of someone (He became a favourite of the queen.)

Similar words: confidant

Common phrases: royal favourite, king’s favourite, court favourite