option
Americannoun
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options
plural
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the power or right of choosing.
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something that may be or is chosen; choice.
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the act of choosing.
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an item of equipment or a feature that may be chosen as an addition to or replacement for standard equipment and features.
a car with a long list of extra-cost options;
a telephoto lens option for a camera.
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a privilege acquired, as by the payment of a premium or consideration, of demanding, within a specified time, the carrying out of a transaction upon stipulated terms; the right, as granted in a contract or by an initial payment, of acquiring something in the future.
We bought one lot and took a 90-day option on an adjoining one.
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Football. a play in which a back has a choice of either passing or running with the ball.
verb (used with object)
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options,
present (3rd person singular)
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optioned,
past participle, past
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optioning
present participle
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to acquire or grant an option on.
The studio has optioned his latest novel for film adaptation.
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to provide with optional equipment.
The car can be fully optioned at additional cost.
noun
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the act or an instance of choosing or deciding
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the power or liberty to choose
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an exclusive opportunity, usually for a limited period, to buy something at a future date
he has a six-month option on the Canadian rights to this book
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commerce the right to buy ( call option ) or sell ( put option ) a fixed quantity of a commodity, security, foreign exchange, etc, at a fixed price at a specified date in the future See also traded option
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something chosen; choice
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short for local option
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not to commit oneself
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See soft option
verb
Synonym Usage
See choice.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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optionsimple
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optionssimple
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have optionedperfect
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has optionedperfect
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am optioningprogressive
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are optioningprogressive
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is optioningprogressive
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have been optioningperfect progressive
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has been optioningperfect progressive
Past
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optionedsimple
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had optionedperfect
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was optioningprogressive
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were optioningprogressive
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had been optioningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of option
First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin optiōn-, stem of optiō “choice,” equivalent to op(tāre) “to select” ( see opt) + -tiō -tion
Explanation
An option is a possibility or choice. In football, a quarterback with three wide receivers has (at least) three throwing options. An option is something that can be chosen — it's a possibility. Even something crazy — like jumping off a cliff — is always an option, just not a good one. There are lots of technical uses of option in business and legal writing. If you have the option on a house, you have the right to buy it. In sports, a free agent has the option of joining another team. No matter what you do, it's nice to have options. When we have no options, we feel trapped.
Vocabulary lists containing option
The Language of Standardized Tests, List 1
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The ACT: The Language of the Test, List 1
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 5
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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.
See Examples For:
The option of real neutrality dissolved with the failure of the Maginot Line, France’s string of defensive installations along its border with Germany.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
The move would allow fringe Leeds defender Sebastiaan Bornauw to join Hamburg on an initial loan with an option to buy.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
Water is your best option if you’re looking for something to sip alongside your meals.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 16, 2026
It's a good option for people who don't have much time or easy access to exercise.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 14, 2026
We were struggling too, and if my results were bad, then going might be a better option than staying here and farming.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
Yet he has ultimately resisted, once again stepping back this month from options to expand strikes across Iran’s critical infrastructure and leadership.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
Among the brand’s options is a zero-proof Negroni containing lion’s mane, a mushroom said to promote brain and nerve health.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
Her friends make a point of choosing places with thoughtful mocktail menus and are quick to point out alcohol-free options when they’re available.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
The priciest options are designed especially for athletes, and Dos Santos -- who himself lost two legs in a car accident -- has visited this cohort following the quakes.
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
Dad would blow a gasket if he knew I was considering using it, but I’m outta options here.
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
Land has been optioned by the same producer behind Hamnet, and O'Farrell confirms she plans to write the screenplay.
From BBC ● May 22, 2026
Hadlow’s novel was optioned for TV before its release in 2020 and producer Jane Tranter enlisted Sarah Quintrell to adapt the book.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2026
“The Freshening,” about a government-assisted drug that has everyone seeing their own race and gender, has already been optioned by Ali Wong and Adam McKay, from writer-director Cathy Yan.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 13, 2026
PulteGroup’s “rich” supply of optioned lots “allows for incrementally more efficient capital allocation from the management team and, in our view, likely keeps PHM as a top share repurchaser in our group,” he wrote.
From Barron's ● Mar. 4, 2026
I was alone west of the surveyed line; east of it steel-corporation men had optioned mountains of iron and another interest had a grip on coal-fields.
From Flower of the North A Modern Romance by James Oliver Curwood
The Angels made a flurry of roster moves before Wednesday’s game, designating veteran infielder Tim Anderson and catcher Chuckie Robinson for assignment, while optioning left-hander Jake Eder to triple-A Salt Lake City.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2025
In other roster news Friday, the Dodgers freshened up their bullpen by calling up Ricky Vanasco and optioning Nick Ramirez.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 17, 2024
Baltimore selected the contract of right-hander Joey Krehbiel from Triple-A Norfolk, although optioning Wells to the minors will only fuel speculation that the AL East leaders will add to their rotation before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 30, 2023
Notes: The Nationals made three more cuts Tuesday, optioning outfielder Stone Garrett and lefty reliever Jose Ferrer to Rochester and reassigning infielder Leonel Valera to minor league camp.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 21, 2023
This favourite gap he had just finished optioning again, and now again he meant to keep at his old quest.
From The Trail of the Lonesome Pine by John Fox
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
