choose
to select from a number of possibilities; pick by preference: She chose Sunday for her departure.
to prefer or decide (to do something): He chose to run for election.
to want; desire: I choose moving to the city.
(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.
to make a choice, or select from two or more possibilities: Accepted by several colleges, the boy chose carefully.
to be inclined: You may stay here, if you choose.
(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.
choose up,
to select (players) for a contest or game: The kids chose up sides for the game.
to select players for a contest or game: We have to choose up before we can play.
Idioms about choose
cannot choose but, cannot do otherwise than; is or are obliged to: He cannot choose but obey.
Origin of choose
1synonym study For choose
Other words from choose
- choos·a·ble, adjective
- chooser, noun
- pre·choose, verb (used with object), pre·chose, pre·cho·sen, pre·choos·ing.
- re·choose, verb, re·chose, re·cho·sen, re·choos·ing.
- un·choos·a·ble, adjective
Words that may be confused with choose
- chews, choose
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use choose in a sentence
You can choose to read this article, feel bad for a moment and then move on to your next email and start your day.
Can artificial intelligence give elephants a winning edge? | Walter Thompson | November 20, 2020 | TechCrunchFor example, if the AI needed a sword, it could choose to steal one or convince another character to hand one over.
How role-playing a dragon can teach an AI to manipulate and persuade | Will Heaven | November 20, 2020 | MIT Technology ReviewShopping for shoes online can lead to high return rates once buyers actually get to slip on their chosen pair, since shoe sizing isn’t standardized across different brands.
Neatsy wants to reduce sneaker returns with 3D foot scans | Natasha Lomas | November 20, 2020 | TechCrunchWith schools literally closed and students falling further and further behind each day, Superintendent Cindy Marten chose an interesting word to describe the state of San Diego Unified School District Tuesday night.
The Learning Curve: Even With Schools Closed, State of District ‘Unstoppable’ | Will Huntsberry | November 19, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoIt’s best to check with your chosen property before confirming a reservation.
What you should consider before working remotely from a vacation destination | Rachel King | November 14, 2020 | Fortune
His first language was Russian, then he learned Swedish, but chooses to perform in monosyllabic broken English.
The Cult of Yung Lean: ‘I’m Building An Anarchistic Society From the Ground Up’ | Marlow Stern | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTAs it stands, our system chooses very weird people—specifically, the kind of people who think that being in Congress sounds fun.
Is It Time to Take a Chance on Random Representatives? | Michael Schulson | November 8, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWhen he chooses to cap a climactic chase seen with yet another baffling fall, we feel cheated.
Normally, she says, she chooses whatever is most comfortable for her.
Disabled Woman Tackles the Dating Site Trolls | Elizabeth Heideman | August 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTA woman chooses to have a sexual relationship with a man who says from the beginning he does not want children.
Of Liszt the first part of this is not true, for if he strikes a wrong note it is simply because he chooses to be careless.
Music-Study in Germany | Amy FayThen, if Man chooses evil, he chooses evil by means of the power of choice God gave him.
God and my Neighbour | Robert BlatchfordThen, as Man did not make nor select his power of choice, Man cannot be blamed if that power chooses evil.
God and my Neighbour | Robert BlatchfordIndeed, any fraud of the insured in procuring the policy has the effect of voiding it if the insurer chooses to do so.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney BollesBut she seems able to take care of herself, and with that face and form, I guess she can redeem her fortunes any way she chooses.
Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton
British Dictionary definitions for choose
/ (tʃuːz) /
to select (a person, thing, course of action, etc) from a number of alternatives
(tr; takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to consider it desirable or proper: I don't choose to read that book
(intr) to like; please: you may stand if you choose
cannot choose but to be obliged to: we cannot choose but vote for him
nothing to choose between or little to choose between (of two people or objects) almost equal
Origin of choose
1Derived forms of choose
- chooser, noun
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with choose
In addition to the idiom beginning with choose
- choose up
also see:
- beggars can't be choosers
- pick and choose
Also see underchoice.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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