FAVOURABLE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does favourable mean? 

• FAVOURABLE (adjective)
  The adjective FAVOURABLE has 4 senses:

1. encouraging or approving or pleasing

2. (of winds or weather) tending to promote or facilitate

3. giving an advantage

4. presaging or likely to bring good luck or a good outcome

  Familiarity information: FAVOURABLE used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FAVOURABLE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Encouraging or approving or pleasing

Synonyms:

favorable; favourable

Context example:

made a favorable impression

Similar:

affirmative; approbative; approbatory; approving; plausive (expressing or manifesting praise or approval)

indulgent (being favorably inclined)

Also:

affirmative; affirmatory (affirming or giving assent)

complimentary (conveying or resembling a compliment)

good (having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified)

Derivation:

favourableness (the quality of being encouraging or promising of a successful outcome)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(of winds or weather) tending to promote or facilitate

Synonyms:

favorable; favourable

Context example:

the days were fair and the winds were favorable

Similar:

following (in the desired direction)

Also:

propitious (presenting favorable circumstances; likely to result in or show signs of success)

Derivation:

favourableness (the quality of being encouraging or promising of a successful outcome)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Giving an advantage

Synonyms:

advantageous; favorable; favourable

Context example:

socially advantageous to entertain often

Similar:

beneficial; good (promoting or enhancing well-being)

plus; positive (involving advantage or good)

discriminatory; preferential (manifesting partiality)

Also:

expedient (serving to promote your interest)

opportune (suitable or at a time that is suitable or advantageous especially for a particular purpose)

profitable (yielding material gain or profit)

Derivation:

favourableness (the quality of being encouraging or promising of a successful outcome)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Presaging or likely to bring good luck or a good outcome

Synonyms:

favorable; favourable; golden; lucky; prosperous

Context example:

a prosperous moment to make a decision

Similar:

propitious (presenting favorable circumstances; likely to result in or show signs of success)

Derivation:

favourableness (the quality of being encouraging or promising of a successful outcome)

 Context examples 

He smiled, and said, “You have formed a very favourable idea of the abbey.”

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

The names which occasionally dropt of former associates, the allusions to former practices and pursuits, suggested suspicions not favourable of what he had been.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

I am myself convinced that it is rather a favourable circumstance.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

And knowing, as she did, the favourable state of mind of each at this period, it struck her the more.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

"It is fair to-night," said she, as she looked through the panes, "though not starlight; Mr. Rochester has, on the whole, had a favourable day for his journey."

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

This is the most favourable period for travelling in Russia.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

A high genetic risk combined with an unfavourable lifestyle profile was associated with a more than twofold increased risk of stroke compared with a low genetic risk and a favourable lifestyle.

(A healthy lifestyle cuts stroke risk, irrespective of genetic risk, University of Cambridge)

The effect of our inquiries at Woolwich has in the main been against young Cadogan West; but the indications at the window would lend themselves to a more favourable hypothesis.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

When it did come, however, it came in a fashion which was more favourable to my plans than anything that I had ever ventured to hope for.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I took all possible methods to cultivate this favourable disposition.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)