by choice

1. Deliberately, as a matter of preference. For example, No one told me to come; I'm here by choice. This expression replaced the earlier with choice, used from about 1500.

Example Sentences

It was President Reagan who once said that the country had always had a problem, “even in the best of times,” with “the homeless who are homeless, you might say, by choice.”

From Los Angeles Times

The statement added Webb was "cruel by choice" and had "no turmoil while torturing me".

From BBC

“Well, it’s about Britain being closed off, so it’s not by choice,” says Garland of the movie’s story.

From Los Angeles Times

The Padres did not win the winter, by choice.

From Los Angeles Times

We shouldn’t be shocked that a kid raised in a regressive society somehow managed to remain there, whether by choice or one of her mother’s recurrent wrong turns and close calls.

From Salon

Related Words

• deliberately 
• freely 
• intentionally 
• spontaneously 
• willingly