favour

noun

UK /ˈfeɪvə(r)/

Word Forms

singular	favour
plural	favours

1
countable something that you do for someone in order to help them
do someone a favour:
Could you do me a favour?
ask a favour of someone:
Can I ask a favour of you?
owe someone a favour:
I’ll ask Steve. He owes me a favour.
return a favour:
Thanks very much for your help. I’ll return the favour some time.
do something as a favour:
He wouldn’t take any money for his work: he insisted he was doing it as a favour.
Synonyms and related words
Help
help
contribution
assistance
2
uncountable support or admiration from people
find/gain/win favour (with someone):
This approach has won more favour in the US than in Britain.
lose favour (with someone):
Nuclear power stations have lost favour in recent years.
curry favour (=try to get someone to support or admire you):
an ambitious young man willing to curry favour with his superiors
Synonyms and related words
Support for ideas, plans or people
support
championship
backing
Synonyms and related words
Feelings of love, respect and admiration
love
respect
passion
3
uncountable behaviour that helps someone and gives them an advantage in an unfair way
show favour to someone:
He was careful to show no favour to anyone.
Synonyms and related words
Favouritism and unfairness
apartheid
linguistic imperialism
favouritism
4

favours
plural old-fashionedsexual acts that one person agrees to do with another
He was found guilty of selling secrets in return for sexual favours.
Synonyms and related words
Sexual activity
ass
the birds and the bees
blow job

phrases

do me/us a favour

in favour

in someone’s favour

in favour of

not do yourself any favours

out of favour

favour

US /ˈfeɪvər/

the British spelling of favor

View the pronunciation for favour.

favour

verb transitive

UK /ˈfeɪvə(r)/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	favour
he/she/it	favours
present participle	favouring
past tense	favoured
past participle	favoured

1
to support an idea and believe that it is better than other ideas that have been suggested
The report strongly favours reform of the electoral system.
Synonyms and related words
To support an idea, plan or person
support
back
get behind
2
to help someone and give them an advantage in an unfair way
These tax cuts will favour the rich.
Synonyms and related words
To give someone an unfair advantage
favour
gift
give/show preference to someone/something
3
to make a situation easier or better for someone or something
The wet conditions favoured the home team.
Synonyms and related words
To make something better
improve
enhance
remedy
4
mainly Americaninformalto look like one of your parents or an older relative
Synonyms and related words
To look the same as, or similar to, someone or something
resemble
take after
blend in

phrasal verbs

favour with

favour ​‌‌‌

favours

favour

favour ​‌‌

favour

favour