favour
Also spelled favor (US spelling)
Favour (noun) means British spelling of favor: a kind or helpful act, or approval and support shown toward someone. Example: “Could you do me a favour and pick up some milk?”
noun
1
British spelling of favor: a kind or helpful act, or approval and support shown toward someone.
"Could you do me a favour and pick up some milk?"
"The manager looked on the new recruit with favour."
"She asked her neighbour for a small favour before going on holiday."
verb
1
British spelling of favor: to prefer or support something, or to treat someone with special kindness.
"The committee decided to favour the cheaper proposal."
"Teachers shouldn't favour one student over another."
"Many parents favour shorter school holidays in the summer."
How to use favour
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA kind act, approval, or preference — British spelling of the American "favor".
UK vs US
Used in UK, Australian, and most Commonwealth English; American English drops the u ("favor").
Common pairings
do someone a favour
in favour of
curry favour
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Word forms
- Plural
- favours
- Third person singular
- favours
- Past tense
- favoured
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Could you do me a _____ and pick up some milk?
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for favour
See all rhymes for favour →Frequently asked questions
What does “favour” mean?
The word “favour” means british spelling of favor: a kind or helpful act, or approval and support shown toward someone. In plain terms, a kind act, approval, or preference — British spelling of the American "favor".
How do you use “favour” in a sentence?
Here is “favour” used in a sentence: “Could you do me a favour and pick up some milk?”
What part of speech is “favour”?
Depending on how it is used, “favour” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “favour” a common word?
“Favour” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “favour” have?
“Favour” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: british spelling of favor: a kind or helpful act, or approval and support shown toward someone.
What is the difference between 'favour' and 'favor'?
There is no difference in meaning: 'favour' is the British spelling and 'favor' is the American spelling of the same word. British, Australian, and Canadian writing generally use 'favour', while American writing uses 'favor'.
Should I use 'favour' or 'favor' in UK English?
In UK English, 'favour' with the 'u' is the correct standard spelling. This applies to related forms as well, such as 'favourite', 'favourable', and 'favouring'.
What is the difference between 'do someone a favour' and 'be in favour of'?
'Do someone a favour' means to perform a kind or helpful act for them, using 'favour' as a noun. 'Be in favour of' means to support or approve of something, expressing preference rather than a single helpful action.
Do you say 'in favour of' or 'in favour to'?
The correct phrase is 'in favour of', as in 'the committee voted in favour of the plan'. 'In favour to' is not standard English.
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