choose

[chooz]

verb (used with object)

chose, chosen , chose, choosing .

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

   She chose Sunday for her departure.

2. to prefer or decide (to do something).

   He chose to run for election.

3. to want; desire.

   I choose moving to the city.

4. (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)

chose, chosen , chose, choosing .

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

   Accepted by several colleges, the boy chose carefully.

2. to be inclined.

   You may stay here, if you choose.

3. (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

1. 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.

choose

/ tʃuːz /

verb

1. to select (a person, thing, course of action, etc) from a number of alternatives

2. (tr; takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to consider it desirable or proper

   I don't choose to read that book

3. (intr) to like; please

   you may stand if you choose

4. to be obliged to

   we cannot choose but vote for him

5. (of two people or objects) almost equal

Other Word Forms

• chooser noun
• choosable adjective
• prechoose verb (used with object)
• rechoose verb
• unchoosable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of choose¹

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” ( gusto )

Word History and Origins

Origin of choose¹

Old English ceosan; related to Old Norse kjōsa, Old High German kiosan

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

   He cannot choose but obey.

More idioms and phrases containing choose

• beggars can't be choosers
• choice
• pick and choose

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

He writes in a wry, amicable style, skillfully layering on his chosen leitmotifs—the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

With a film like this, if you want people to respond and bring themselves to it, you don’t get to pick and choose how that happens.

Read more on Salon

When asked how to decrease health disparities, Goodman says, “Make every community a healthy place to live. We have healthy communities in this country. We’ve just chosen to systematically disinvest in certain ones.”

Read more on Salon

I was happy with spousal equivalency, with the idea that every day Carlos and I chose each other without needing the state to ratify it.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

I’m betting that at the margin, people are choosing alternatives.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• accept 
• adopt 
• appoint 
• cast 
• designate 
• determine 
• elect 
• embrace 
• favor 
• judge 
• love 
• name 
• prefer 
• single out 
• take 
• want