favorite
The chosen one
Favorite is what you prefer above all others of its kind: a favorite song, a favorite restaurant, Who's your favorite?
The British spelling is favourite.
A favorite is also the competitor expected to win: The Lakers are heavy favorites.
To play favorites is to show unfair preference.
As a verb, to favorite something—especially on social media—is to mark it for later or signal approval.
Beloved person or pet
- dearestMost treasured one
- sweetheartAffectionate name for beloved
- dearTreasured or costly
- preciousHighly esteemed, greatly valued
adored · cherished · treasured · prized · valued · esteemed · special · preferred
Leading candidate or competitor
- contenderOne competing seriously
- championTop competitor, or advocate
- top seedHighest-ranked competitor
- shoo-inInevitable victor
odds-on · pick · choice · selection · number one · dark horse · underdog
Act of selecting
- pickPointed breaking tool
- selectionChosen item or items
- top choiceMost preferred option
- go-toDependably preferred choice
preference · predilection · partiality · bias · inclination · leaning · penchant · taste
darling
Beloved person or pet
- dearestMost treasured one
- sweetheartAffectionate name for beloved
- dearTreasured or costly
precious · adored · cherished · treasured · prized · valued · esteemed · special · preferred · chosen
frontrunner
Leading candidate or competitor
- contenderOne competing seriously
- championTop competitor, or advocate
- top seedHighest-ranked competitor
shoo-in · odds-on · pick · choice · selection · number one · dark horse · underdog
choice
Act of selecting
- pickPointed breaking tool
- selectionChosen item or items
- top choiceMost preferred option
go-to · preference · predilection · partiality · bias · inclination · leaning · penchant · taste · liking
save
Protect from loss
pin · follow · subscribe · shortlist · watchlist · playlist · reading list · wishlist · saved · flagged
- preferencespreferences, prefer, likes, like, liking
- Americanismsaluminum, fixin' to, apartment, howdy, candy
- competitorscompetitor, contestant, competitors, rivals, opponents
- online reactionslike, dislike, share, comment, reply
- rankingsrankings, first, college rankings, second, third
- crowd pleaserscrowd pleaser, encores, standing ovations, smash hit, sing-alongs
favoriteunderdog
Presumed loser beforehand
long shot · dark horse · also-ran · outsider · rank outsider
favoriteunpopular
Not liked by many
unfashionable · out of favor · out · passé · run-of-the-mill
- play favoritesPrefer some over others
- played favoritesTreated unequally by preference
- playing favoritesTreating some preferentially
- favorite thingsWhat one likes most
- favorite toyPreferred object of play
- favorite foodsMeals one likes best