lief Synonyms & Antonyms
Choose a meaning, then find a word that fits your sentence.
Lief as an Adjective
Beloved, dear, agreeable.
Ready, willing.
Lief as an Adverb
Readily, willingly, rather.
I'd as lief have one as t'other.
Lief in a Sentence
I'd as lief have one as t'other.
Word Forms & Grammar
lief (comparative liefer or liever, superlative liefest or lievest)
lief (comparative liefer or liever, superlative liefest)
Words That Rhyme With Lief
Origin of Lief
Origin 1: From Middle English lef, leve, leef, from Old English lēof, from Proto-West Germanic *leub, from Proto-Germanic *leubaz.
Origin 2: Cognate with Saterland Frisian ljo, ljoo, ljoof, West Frisian leaf, Dutch lief, German Low German leev, German lieb, Swedish and Norwegian Nynorsk ljuv, Gothic 𐌻𐌹𐌿𐍆𐍃 (liufs), Russian любо́вь (ljubóvʹ), Polish luby.
Origin 3: For the adverb, compare German lieber, Dutch liever (“preferably, rather”).
Lief: Key Facts
| Part of speech | adjective, adverb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈliːf/ |
| Meaning | Beloved, dear, agreeable |
| Comparative / superlative | liefer, liefest |