Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act or power of choosing; something that may be chosen: The basic meaning refers to the freedom or right to select between different possibilities, or to one of the possibilities available for selection.
   • A right, bought for a fee, to buy or sell an asset at a set price within a specific time: A specialized financial or contractual term granting a specific, time-limited privilege.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (General Choice):

  • You have the option to pay now or later.
  • The restaurant offers a vegetarian option on its menu.
  • He had no option but to accept the terms.

• Noun (Financial/Contractual Right):

  • The company granted its employees stock options.
  • He bought a call option on 100 shares of the company.

Advanced Usage

• "To keep/leave one's options open": To avoid making a final decision so that other choices remain available.

  • She hasn't accepted any job offers yet; she's keeping her options open.

• "The soft/easy option": The choice that requires the least effort or confrontation.

  • Quitting is the easy option, but I prefer to finish what I started.

Variants and Related Words

• Optional (adj): Not compulsory; left to personal choice.

  • Attendance at the meeting is optional.

• Opt (v): To make a choice.

  • She opted for the cheaper model.

Synonyms

• Choice: The act of selecting or the thing selected.
• Alternative: One of two or more available possibilities.
• Selection: The action or fact of carefully choosing someone or something.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Opt in: To choose to participate in a system or arrangement.

  • Employees must opt in to the new pension scheme.

• Opt out: To choose not to participate in a system or arrangement.

  • You can opt out of receiving marketing emails.

Related Idioms

• Weigh one's options: To consider different choices carefully before deciding.

  • Before moving, I need to weigh my options carefully.

• Have no option but to...: To be forced to do something because there is no other possibility.

  • I had no option but to report the incident.

Noun

1. the act of choosing or selecting
   • your choice of colors was unfortunate
   • you can take your pick
2. one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen
   • what option did I have?
   • there no other alternative
   • my only choice is to refuse
3. the right to buy or sell property at an agreed price; the right is purchased and if it is not exercised by a stated date the money is forfeited