favor

Definitions

Straight from Latin favor 'goodwill,' from favēre 'to be kindly disposed toward.' The core image is goodwill that leans one way. That single lean fans out into the word's meanings: a favor (a leaning toward you in a kind act), favor (approval, leaning toward an idea), to favor (to lean toward one choice), and the shadow sense, favoritism (leaning unfairly toward one person).

Why It Means This

The trick with favor is that the same goodwill can be generous or biased depending on who it leaves out. Doing someone a favor is purely kind. But favoring one child over another, or showing favor to a friend in a hiring decision, is the same lean of goodwill turned unfair. English keeps both senses alive in one word — context decides whether you mean kindness or partiality.

Common Collocations

• 1.do someone a favor帮某人一个忙
• 2.ask a favor请求帮忙
• 3.in favor of赞成、支持
• 4.find favor with受到……青睐
• 5.return the favor回报这份人情
• 6.favor over偏爱……而非

Example Sentences

• 1.

  Could you do me a favor and watch my bag for a minute?

• 2.

  The new proposal quickly found favor with the committee.

• 3.

  Most of the team favors moving the deadline to next week.

• 4.

  The manager was accused of showing favor to his old friends.

Easily Confused

favor vs benefit — both can mean something good you give, but a favor is a one-off kind act done out of goodwill ('do me a favor'), while a benefit is a lasting advantage or gain ('the benefits of exercise'). You ask for a favor; you enjoy a benefit.

Synonym Comparison