choose

[ chooz ]

verb (used with object)

, chose; cho·sen or (Obsolete) chose; choos·ing.

1. to select from a number of possibilities; pick by preference:

   She chose Sunday for her departure.

2. to prefer or decide (to do something):

   He chose to run for election.

3. to want; desire:

   I choose moving to the city.

4. (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; cho·sen or (Obsolete) chose; choos·ing.

1. to make a choice, or select from two or more possibilities:

   Accepted by several colleges, the boy chose carefully.

2. to be inclined:

   You may stay here, if you choose.

3. (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

1. 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.

choose

/ tʃuːz /

verb

1. to select (a person, thing, course of action, etc) from a number of alternatives
2. tr; takes a clause as object or an infinitive to consider it desirable or proper

   I don't choose to read that book

3. intr to like; please

   you may stand if you choose

4. cannot choose but
   to be obliged to

   we cannot choose but vote for him

5. nothing to choose between or little to choose between
   (of two people or objects) almost equal

Derived Forms

• ˈchooser, noun

Other Words From

• choosa·ble adjective
• chooser noun
• pre·choose verb (used with object) prechose prechosen prechoosing
• re·choose verb rechose rechosen rechoosing
• un·choosa·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of choose¹

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of choose¹

Old English ceosan; related to Old Norse kjōsa, Old High German kiosan

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

   He cannot choose but obey.

More idioms and phrases containing choose

In addition to the idiom beginning with choose , also see beggars can't be choosers ; pick and choose . Also see under choice .

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Virtually none of the people the president-elect is choosing to lead the various departments have any qualifications for the jobs he's putting them into and little or no management experience of any kind.

From Salon

With this new threat unlocked, the search crew must fight for survival and what they choose to do with this discovery could change planet Earth as they know it.

From Salon

Prisoners should be able choose their jobs — of which there are many in prison — as well as the educational and treatment programs they need to prepare for life after prison.

From Los Angeles Times

Ideally, Ford said, people would not have to choose between being politically active and preserving their mental health.

From Los Angeles Times

Murray is hyper-aware of the roles he chooses and how they might affect his family.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accept
• adopt
• appoint
• cast
• designate
• determine
• elect
• embrace
• favor
• judge
• love
• name
• prefer
• single out
• take
• want