choose
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.
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.
choose up,
to select (players) for a contest or game: The kids chose up sides for the game.
to select players for a contest or game: We have to choose up before we can play.
Idioms about choose
cannot choose but, cannot do otherwise than; is or are obliged to: He cannot choose but obey.
Origin of choose
1synonym study For choose
Other words from choose
- choos·a·ble, adjective
- chooser, noun
- pre·choose, verb (used with object), pre·chose, pre·cho·sen, pre·choos·ing.
- re·choose, verb, re·chose, re·cho·sen, re·choos·ing.
- un·choos·a·ble, adjective
Words that may be confused with choose
- chews, choose
Words Nearby choose
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use choose in a sentence
Many will think about their pillows in purely functional terms and either not care about or simply choose to ignore any association with Mike Lindell.
MyPillow boycott: How a product can spark an identity crisis | Elizabeth Chang | February 12, 2021 | Washington PostThe traditional way of advertising includes choosing the right ad content and selecting the right channel or platform to display your ad.
Five ways to use machine learning in digital marketing | Birbahadur Kathayat | February 12, 2021 | Search Engine WatchHe chose his sites carefully, to avoid reducing availability for the vulnerable.
My mother and her friends couldn’t get coronavirus vaccine appointments, so they turned to a stranger for help. He’s 13. | Greg Harris | February 12, 2021 | Washington PostBauer said he chose the Dodgers in part because of the way they interpret data, not merely that they use it.
Trevor Bauer, unorthodox star with an unorthodox deal, gets an unorthodox Dodgers intro | Chelsea Janes | February 12, 2021 | Washington PostPaired with someone who also values family, whether it’s blood related or chosen family.
House rules require an absolute majority of members voting to choose a speaker.
The reason pilots would choose to use guns over a bomb or a missile is simple.
New U.S. Stealth Jet Can’t Fire Its Gun Until 2019 | Dave Majumdar | December 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThat gays (and other liberals) should choose Canadian oil because Canada “has no laws prohibiting LGBT lifestyle.”
How Canadian Oilmen Pinkwash the Keystone Pipeline | Jay Michaelson | December 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTSo why did the God of the Hebrew people choose such a scandalous setting for becoming human?
But, Hamlawa says, she choose to stay on the front lines instead, “I stayed with my other daughters.”
Embedding With the Women Who Are Kicking ISIS Ass | Susannah George | December 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST"I will," gruffly replied the man, with a look which showed that he was sorry to be forced to choose the second alternative.
It had been a pleasure to choose the various tasteful specimens of the upholsterer's art.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsShe would not dare to choose, and begged that Mademoiselle Reisz would please herself in her selections.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate ChopinYour most intimate friend arrived in Paris, and you choose the next day to make a little tour!
Confidence | Henry JamesHe shall eat butter and honey, that he may know to refuse the evil, and to choose the good.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | Various
British Dictionary definitions for choose
/ (tʃuːz) /
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
cannot choose but to be obliged to: we cannot choose but vote for him
nothing to choose between or little to choose between (of two people or objects) almost equal
Origin of choose
1Derived forms of choose
- chooser, noun
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with choose
In addition to the idiom beginning with choose
- choose up
also see:
- beggars can't be choosers
- pick and choose
Also see underchoice.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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