If you say that one thing is preferable to another, you mean that it is more desirable or suitable. 更合心意的; 更适合的
adjective [原级] 更好的，更合适的
A big earthquake a long way off is preferable to a smaller one nearby. 远处的大地震要比近处的小地震好。
prefer(更喜欢) ＋ able(…的) → 更喜欢的 → 更可取的， 更好的
