CS Knowledge Base

• favorable (US)

From Middle English favourable, from Old French favorable, from Latin favōrābilis, from favor. By surface analysis, favour +‎ -able.

• IPA^(key): /ˈfeɪv(ə)ɹəbəl/

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favourable (comparative more favourable, superlative most favourable) (British spelling)

1. Apt to win favour; pleasing.

   Synonyms: good, pleasing

   Antonyms: bad, displeasing, unfavorable

   The candidate wearing the business suit made a favourable impression.

2. Expressing or indicating favour or goodwill; approving, encouraging.

   Synonyms: approving, encouraging, positive

   Antonyms: disapproving, discouraging, negative, unfavourable

   The proposal has received many favourable comments.

   • 1958 June, “First Battery Railcars on B.R.”, in Railway Magazine, page 419:

     The batteries were supplied by Chloride Batteries Limited, under favourable terms, and the stationary charging plants at Aberdeen and Ballater were similarly supplied by Bruce Peebles Limited.

3. Useful or helpful.

   Synonyms: advantageous, helpful, useful, propitious

   Antonyms: unfavourable, unhelpful

   We made quick progress, due to favourable winds.

   • 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto IX”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:

     So draw him home to those that mourn
     ⁠In vain; a favourable speed
     ⁠Ruffle thy mirror’d mast, and lead
     Thro’ prosperous floods his holy urn.

   • 2012 August 1, Peter Walker, Haroon Siddique, “Eight Olympic badminton players disqualified for 'throwing games'”, in The Guardian‎^[1], archived from the original on 1 August 2024:

     Four pairs of women's doubles badminton players, including the Chinese top seeds, have been ejected from the Olympic tournament for trying to throw matches in an effort to secure a more favourable quarter-final draw.

4. Convenient or at a suitable time; opportune.

   Synonyms: convenient, good, handy, opportune, suitable

   Antonyms: bad, inconvenient, inopportune, unfavourable, unsuitable

   The rain stopped at a favourable time for our tennis match.

5. Auspicious or lucky.

   Synonyms: auspicious, fortunate, lucky

   Antonyms: inauspicious, unfavourable, unlucky

   She says that she was born under a favourable star.

• faverable, favorabele, favorabil, favorable, ffaverable, ffavorable

Borrowed from Old French favorable, from Latin favorabilis; equivalent to favour +‎ -able.

• IPA^(key): /ˌfaːvuˈraːbəl/, /ˌfaːvuˈraːblə/

favourable

1. benevolent, well-disposed
2. biased, prejudiced
3. pleasing, attractive
4. (rare) beneficial, favourable

• English: favourable, favorable

• “fāvǒurāble, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.