choose

American

[chooz] / tʃuz /

verb (used with object)

chose, chosen, chose, choosing

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.

verb (used without object)

chose, chosen, chose, choosing

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.

verb phrase

choose up
1. to select (players) for a contest or game.
  
  The kids chose up sides for the game.
2. to select players for a contest or game.
  
  We have to choose up before we can play.

idioms

cannot choose but, cannot do otherwise than; is or are obliged to.

He cannot choose but obey.

choose British

/ tʃuːz /

verb

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
to be obliged to

we cannot choose but vote for him
(of two people or objects) almost equal

"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

choose More Idioms

More idioms and phrases containing choose

Related Words

Choose, select, pick, elect, prefer indicate a decision that one or more possibilities are to be regarded more highly than others. Choose suggests a decision on one of a number of possibilities because of its apparent superiority: to choose a course of action. Select suggests a choice made for fitness: to select the proper golf club. Pick, an informal word, suggests a selection on personal grounds: to pick a winner. The formal word elect suggests a kind of official action: to elect a representative. Prefer, also formal, emphasizes the desire or liking for one thing more than for another or others: to prefer coffee to tea.

Other Word Forms

choosable adjective
chooser noun
prechoose verb (used with object)
rechoose verb
unchoosable adjective

Etymology

Origin of choose

First recorded before 1000; Middle English chosen, chēsen, Old English cēosan; cognate with Gothic kiusan, Old High German kiosan ( German kiesen ); akin to Greek geúesthai “to enjoy,” Latin gustāre “to taste” ( gusto )

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.

The result was the Wall of Sound, a massive bank of carefully chosen stage speakers that projected clear fidelity without distortion.

From The Wall Street Journal

He chose to favor biology over meritocracy and anointed Commodus as his heir when the boy was only 5 years old.

From The Wall Street Journal

That Merz chose India for his first trip to Asia as chancellor "demonstrates how India, the world's largest democracy, is an important strategic partner for Germany," a government spokesman said on Friday in Berlin.

From Barron's

The group hired a project-management firm to advise on major decisions and chose a construction strategy called “design build,” which combines architectural planning, engineering and construction into an umbrella contract.

From The Wall Street Journal

After a scrappy third, Smith unexpectedly chose to trade with the champion.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023