favorite

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

n. darling, pet; idol, hero, jewel; apple of one's eye; choice, preference; spoiled child or darling; teacher's pet, fair- or white-haired boy (all inf.). —adj. dear-est; beloved, preferred, choice.See love.

II

(Roget's IV) modif.

Syn. liked, best-liked, beloved, favored, preferred, especial, personal, intimate, dear to one's heart, especially liked, to one's taste, to one's liking, choice, pet, deSired, wished-for, adored, chosen, ideal, popular, fair-haired*; see also beloved .

Ant. unpopular*, unwanted, unwelcome.

n.

Syn. darling, pet, idol, ideal, preference, pick, favored one, adored one, beloved one, mistress, love, minion, paramour, pampered darling, favorite son, spoiled child, enfant gâté (French), favorite child, one in a favored position, one having the odds in his or her favor, fair-haired boy or girl*, a favorite two to one or three to one, etc., teacher's pet*, odds-on favorite*, apple of one's eye*.

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus)

I

n.

preference, choice, selection, *number one, *apple of one's eye, pet, darling, ideal, dearest, idol, *pick of the litter.

II

a.

best-liked, preferred, pet, dear, choice, beloved, popular, selected, ideal, *fair-haired, dearest.

ANT.: disliked, unwanted

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) I noun 1. One liked or preferred above all others: darling, pet1. Idiom: apple of one's eye. See LIKE. 2. A competitor regarded as the most likely winner: Informal: shoo-in. See WIN. II adjective 1. Being a favorite: favored, popular, preferred, well-liked. See LIKE. 2. Given special, usually doting treatment: darling, fair-haired, favored, pet1. See TREAT WELL.