Synonyms

choose

American

[chooz] / tʃuz /

verb (used with object)

to select from a number of possibilities; pick by preference.

She chose Sunday for her departure.
to prefer or decide (to do something).

He chose to run for election.
to want; desire.

I choose moving to the city.
(especially in children's games) to contend with (an opponent) to decide, as by odd or even, who will do something.

I'll choose you to see who gets to bat first.

verb (used without object)

to make a choice, or select from two or more possibilities.

Accepted by several colleges, the boy chose carefully.
to be inclined.

You may stay here, if you choose.
(especially in children's games) to decide, as by means of odd or even, who will do something.

Let's choose to see who bats first.

verb phrase

choose up
1. to select (players) for a contest or game.
  
  The kids chose up sides for the game.
2. to select players for a contest or game.
  
  We have to choose up before we can play.

idioms

cannot choose but, cannot do otherwise than; is or are obliged to.

He cannot choose but obey.

choose British

/ tʃuːz /

verb

to select (a person, thing, course of action, etc) from a number of alternatives
(tr; takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to consider it desirable or proper

I don't choose to read that book
(intr) to like; please

you may stand if you choose
to be obliged to

we cannot choose but vote for him
(of two people or objects) almost equal

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

choose More Idioms

More idioms and phrases containing choose

Synonym Usage

Choose, select, pick, elect, prefer indicate a decision that one or more possibilities are to be regarded more highly than others. Choose suggests a decision on one of a number of possibilities because of its apparent superiority: to choose a course of action. Select suggests a choice made for fitness: to select the proper golf club. Pick, an informal word, suggests a selection on personal grounds: to pick a winner. The formal word elect suggests a kind of official action: to elect a representative. Prefer, also formal, emphasizes the desire or liking for one thing more than for another or others: to prefer coffee to tea.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of choose

First recorded before 1000; Middle English chosen, chēsen, Old English cēosan; cognate with Gothic kiusan, Old High German kiosan ( German kiesen ); akin to Greek geúesthai “to enjoy,” Latin gustāre “to taste” ( see gusto)

Explanation

The hardest part of adopting a dog from a shelter is when you have to choose which one to bring home with you. When you pick out one pup from the mass of barking canines, that's the dog you choose. Any time you decide on one thing over another — whether it's a seat on a plane, a new pair of shoes, or who you want to marry — you choose it. The Old English word that choose comes from is ceosan, which means something closer to "taste."

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Mortgage rates declined in April, and an increase in the inventory of homes for sale gave buyers more to choose from.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

They didn't choose to be soldiers for the military either.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

She said the EU order would ensure EU citizens choose which AI chatbots they would prefer to use on WhatsApp.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

You can choose the year to start the reduction and how much the cut will be, and keep changing it to keep up with the news.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

I choose to see this as a positive development.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023