option

[ op-shuhn ]

noun

1. the power or right of choosing.
2. something that may be or is chosen; choice.

   Synonyms: election, selection

3. the act of choosing.

   Synonyms: election, selection

4. an item of equipment or a feature that may be chosen as an addition to or replacement for standard equipment and features:

   a car with a long list of extra-cost options;

   a telephoto lens option for a camera.

5. stock option.
6. a privilege acquired, as by the payment of a premium or consideration, of demanding, within a specified time, the carrying out of a transaction upon stipulated terms; the right, as granted in a contract or by an initial payment, of acquiring something in the future:

   We bought one lot and took a 90-day option on an adjoining one.

7. Football. a play in which a back has a choice of either passing or running with the ball.

verb (used with object)

1. to acquire or grant an option on:

   The studio has optioned his latest novel for film adaptation.

2. to provide with optional equipment:

   The car can be fully optioned at additional cost.

option

/ ˈɒpʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of choosing or deciding
2. the power or liberty to choose
3. an exclusive opportunity, usually for a limited period, to buy something at a future date

   he has a six-month option on the Canadian rights to this book

4. commerce the right to buy ( call option ) or sell ( put option ) a fixed quantity of a commodity, security, foreign exchange, etc, at a fixed price at a specified date in the future See also traded option
5. something chosen; choice
6. short for local option
7. keep one's options open or leave one's options open
   not to commit oneself
8. See soft option

verb

1. tr to obtain or grant an option on

Other Words From

• option·a·ble adjective
• pre·option noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of option¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin optiōn-, stem of optiō “choice,” equivalent to op(tāre) “to select” ( opt ) + -tiō -tion

Word History and Origins

Origin of option¹

C17: from Latin optiō free choice, from optāre to choose

Synonym Study

See choice.

Example Sentences

But a different, more politically palatable option might be redirecting sugar away from diets to other environmentally-beneficial uses such as bioplastics or biofuels.

From Salon

But he questioned what work the Scottish government was doing to identify foreign inmates, speaking to their countries of origin and exploring options to return them there to see out the remainder of their sentence.

From BBC

However, there are only a few discrete options for the quantum spin on a particle -- for example, up and down.

From Science Daily

It does seem inevitable Guardiola will manage at international level one day – and if Spain is not an obvious move because of his stance on Catalan independence, England is an option.

From BBC

His best option, he decided, was to swim across a small river.

From BBC

Related Words

• benefit
• choice
• opportunity
• preference
• privilege
• right