choice

[ chois ]

/ tʃɔɪs /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR choice ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an act or instance of choosing; selection: Her choice of a computer was made after months of research. His parents were not happy with his choice of friends.

the right, power, or opportunity to choose; option: The child had no choice about going to school.

the person or thing chosen or eligible to be chosen: This book is my choice. He is one of many choices for the award.

an alternative: There is another choice.

an abundance or variety from which to choose: a wide choice of candidates.

something that is preferred or preferable to others; the best part of something: Mare's Nest is the choice in the sixth race.

a carefully selected supply: This restaurant has a fine choice of wines.

a choice grade of beef.

adjective, choic·er, choic·est.

worthy of being chosen; excellent; superior.

carefully selected: choice words.

(in the grading of beef in the U.S.) rated between prime and good.

Nearby words

Idioms

of choice, that is generally preferred: A detached house is still the home of choice.

Origin of choice

1250–1300; Middle English chois < Old French, derivative of choisir to perceive, choose < Germanic; see choose

SYNONYMS FOR choice

9. select, rare, uncommon, valuable, precious.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR choice ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formschoice·less, adjectivechoice·ly, adverbchoice·ness, nounpre·choice, noun

Synonym study

2. Choice, alternative, option, preference all suggest the power of choosing between things. Choice implies the opportunity to choose: a choice of evils. Alternative suggests that one has a choice between only two possibilities. It is often used with a negative to mean that there is no second possibility: to have no alternative. Option emphasizes free right or privilege of choosing: to exercise one's option. Preference applies to a choice based on liking or partiality: to state a preference. 9. See fine¹.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for choices

But these choices are where Iron from Ice (and other Telltale properties) sets itself apart.
‘Game of Thrones’ Interactive FanFiction: Whoops, My Friend Was Speared in the Throat|Alec Kubas-Meyer|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I sometimes feel vexed by—but also addicted to—a sense of conflict, or a sense of being at odds with myself, or my choices.
Michael C. Hall on Going Drag for ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’ and Exorcising ‘Dexter’|Marlow Stern|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We need to reinforce the message that decision-making, the power of choices, is also important.
A Black Cop’s Tough Words for Mike Brown|Mary M. Chapman|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
People can make other choices, and people should definitely be able to make a living off the work that they do.
Revenge of the Rock Nerds: TV on the Radio’s Long Road to ‘Seeds’|Marlow Stern|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Someone slipped me something while I was making Pound, and I had two choices—go to the hospital, or keep working.
The Renegade: Robert Downey Sr. on His Classic Films, Son’s Battle with Drugs, and Bill Cosby|Marlow Stern|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I have witnessed more extraordinary assortments and choices than this.
Miss Ravenel's conversion from secession to loyalty|J. W. de Forest
This was not a happy life for Theodora, but she had chosen it, and our choices are our destiny.
A Reconstructed Marriage|Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr
Multiplied to infinity, choices no longer undergird values, but options that are equally mediocre.
The Civilization of Illiteracy|Mihai Nadin
The choices we make, for good or ill, may well shape the state of the Union for generations yet to come.
Complete State of the Union Addresses from 1790 to 2006|Various
This commitment remains binding and choices are made based on devotion to this commitment.
Nursing as Caring|Anne Boykin

British Dictionary definitions for choices

choice

/ (tʃɔɪs) /

noun

the act or an instance of choosing or selecting

the opportunity or power of choosing

a person or thing chosen or that may be chosenhe was a possible choice

an alternative action or possibilitywhat choice did I have?

a supply from which to selecta poor choice of shoes

of choice preferred; favourite

adjective

of superior quality; excellentchoice wine

carefully chosen, appropriatea few choice words will do the trick

vulgar or rudechoice language

Derived Formschoicely, adverbchoiceness, noun

Word Origin for choice

C13: from Old French chois, from choisir to choose

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

Word Origin and History for choices

choice

mid-14c., "that which is choice," from choice (adj.) blended with earlier chois (n.) "action of selecting" (c.1300); "power of choosing" (early 14c.), "someone or something chosen" (late 14c.), from Old French chois "one's choice; fact of having a choice" (12c., Modern French choix), from verb choisir "to choose, distinguish, discern; recognize, perceive, see," from a Germanic source related to Old English ceosan "to choose, taste, try;" see choose. Late Old English chis "fastidious, choosy," from or related to ceosan, probably also contributed to the development of choice. Replaced Old English cyre "choice, free will," from the same base, probably because the imported word was closer to choose [see note in OED].

choice

adj.

"worthy to be chosen, distinguished, excellent," mid-14c., from choice (n.). Related: Choiceness.

Idioms and Phrases with choices

choice

see by choice; Hobson's choice; of choice; pays your money and takes your choice. Also see under choose.

choice

noun

adjective, choic·er, choic·est.

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Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of choice

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for choices

choice

noun

adjective

Word Origin for choice

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