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• opt
  opt

  verb (used without object)

  to make a choice; choose (usually followed byfor ).
• opt.
  opt.

  abbreviation

  optative.

opt

¹ American  

[opt] / ɒpt /

verb (used without object)

• opts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• opted,
  past participle,  past
• opting
  present participle

1. to make a choice; choose (usually followed byfor ).

   Synonyms:

   elect, pick, select

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verb phrase

1. opt in to decide to make use of or take part in something.

   To receive automatic updates, opt in under the email notification section.

2. opt out to decide to withdraw from or not take part in something.

   You can opt out of the pension plan, but you lose the employer and government contribution.

opt. ² American  

abbreviation

1. optative.

2. optical.

3. optician.

4. optics.

5. optional.

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opt British  

/ ɒpt /

verb

1. to show preference (for) or choose (to do something) See also opt in See also opt out

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unopted
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• opting
  present
• opted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• opt
  simple
• opts
  simple
• have opted
  perfect
• has opted
  perfect
• am opting
  progressive
• are opting
  progressive
• is opting
  progressive
• have been opting
  perfect progressive
• has been opting
  perfect progressive

Past

• opted
  simple
• had opted
  perfect
• was opting
  progressive
• were opting
  progressive
• had been opting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will opt
  simple
• will have opted
  perfect
• will be opting
  progressive
• will have been opting
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of opt

First recorded in 1875–80; from French opter “to choose, divide,” from Latin optāre “to wish for, desire, pray for, choose, select”

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Explanation

To opt is to choose. Given the alternative, most kids will opt for a cupcake over a ham sandwich. When you're signing up for next semester's classes, you might opt for another history class, or instead opt for advanced biology. Whenever you have more than one alternative, you have the chance to opt for something. You can also opt out of something, or choose not to do it at all. Opt comes from the French verb opter, "to choose," from the Latin root optare, "desire," and it's related to option.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

opt opt. opts opted opting

States have long had the option to opt out of daylight saving time with congressional approval, although most of America observes it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2026

Clubs could potentially opt to reject an offer which would include the Saturday 3pm games.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

To drive builders to construct eligible homes, the measure would allow them to opt into a “qualified builder” option.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026

Lab-grown diamonds are now more popular than natural diamonds for engagement rings, according to Zola’s 2026 Wedding Style Report: 54% of couples opt for lab-grown, while only 34% choose natural diamonds.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026

I spit the half-chewed oats into the trash can and opt for Pop-Tarts instead.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Although this latter edition be called the edit. opt. it will be evident that the editio originalis is yet a desideratum in every bibliographical collection.

From Bibliomania; or Book-Madness A Bibliographical Romance by Thomas Frognall Dibdin

Rhei opt. aa. ℈i. ol. junip. gutt. xvi. syr. bals. q. s. f. mass. in pil. xxiv. divid.

From An Account of the Foxglove and some of its Medical Uses With Practical Remarks on Dropsy and Other Diseases by William Withering

Spenser. dim. diminutive. opp. opposed. subj. subjunctive. dub. doubtful. opt. optics. suff. suffix. eccles. ecclesiastical history. orig. originally. superl. superlative. e.g. for example. ornith. ornithology. surg. surgery. elect. electricity.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

With the right-handed Rojas due up, Roberts opts for the left-handed Josue De Paula as a pinch-hitter.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026

Markets are pricing a more than 70% likelihood that the Fed opts for a quarter-point raise next month.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

While quarterly rebalancing changes are always expected to be announced on the first Friday of the last month of the quarter, it’s worth noting that the index committee sometimes opts against making any changes.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 4, 2026

Could it be that Brook and McCullum stay as a pair, and the new Test coach opts for a different skipper?

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

I can almost see the million thoughts spinning behind her eyes, but she opts to sign, “What is that? It doesn’t look like anything I’ve seen before.”

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Unlike most companies that operate under one-share, one-vote rules, some have opted to give certain shareholders increased voting power, often through a special class of stock.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026

Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh spoke to the trend on Wednesday after the central bank opted not to hike interest rates in October.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 31, 2026

But this time, they approached the tournament with a different focus, as head coach Staurt Barrow opted for youth over experience.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

It also helped it not feel awkward or gratuitous when he and the producers opted not to recast the Parton half of the song and instead let her voice carry through the speakers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

If the apartment had any kind of heat, he would have stood by the front door of his building for five, but since it was just marginally warmer indoors, he opted for fifteen.

From "The Dead and the Gone" by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Many skilled tradespeople are opting to work on lucrative data-center projects rather than on homes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

But artists in the genre have often moved away from albums, opting instead to release EPs and singles.

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026

He expects to see U.S. strikes intensifying in the coming months, and then both the U.S. and Iran opting for negotiations due to a “lack of economic and political capabilities to support a longer war.”

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026

He did not score a touchdown, either, opting to hand off to running back Kenneth Walker for two scores.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2026

But Nick bypasses everything comfortable, opting instead for the floor, where he crosses his legs and starts tuning his guitar.

From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli

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Related Words

• decide
• elect
• go for
• prefer

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