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Synonyms

by choice

Idioms  

  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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Kavanagh, 78, is a New Englander by birth and Californian by choice.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

Let’s also acknowledge that some new entrepreneurs didn’t become founders entirely by choice.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

"The share of those working part time for economic reasons, meaning not by choice, has increased considerably," she said.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

"I have always had an interest in learning other languages", he said, explaining Welsh appealed to him because it is spoken by choice rather than necessity.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

I had moved here by choice, after my best friend, Adek, died.

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman

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.