Converse of object

• seek: It is unwise to trust those who seek preferment, status or a seat on the security council.

• hold: Several others are north countrymen; others held preferment in the diocese before they became bishops thereof.

• obtain: But again I've no doubt that membership is abused to give or obtain personal preferment.

• gain: There have been many examples of freemasons using their membership to gain preferment in their careers and avoid due punishment for their misdemeanors.

• receive: Balderston published nothing and received no preferment except for a canonry at Peterborough in 1681: he was buried in the cathedral there.

• buy: As we have already noted, wealth alone, no matter how it was acquired, could not buy official preferment.

Adjective modifier

• ecclesiastical: Simony is the buying of ecclesiastical preferment - how does this affect the whole story?

• other: Well, my decision is that you had better look for some other preferment.

• high: Urban IV. repeatedly offered him high ecclesiastical preferment, which he in his humility declined.

• political: Fidelity to his own spirituality was always his, but political preferment went to those who followed the dictates of self-interested prudence.

Noun used with modifier

• church: In any matter touching church preferment you would of course be listened to.

• cathedral: Within the church, cathedral preferments were eagerly sought after and their holders represented a recognized elite.