We read and studied out of doors, preferring the sunlit woods to the house.
He had not sought the office, preferring service in the field.
Only when the sun peeked over the horizon did he decide to leave, preferring a dark place where he could dwell with his dark thoughts.
Parents often worry about preferring one child over another and being fair to all their children.
A year later, preferring a wider field, he resigned the position and devoted himself to literary work.