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

He said the new recommendations are a much-needed update to the current standard of care in which individual radiologists measure tumor size, which dictates treatment options.

From Science Daily

"Patients often require intensive hospital care as symptoms worsen, and our current treatment options are severely limited," explains Igdoura.

From Science Daily

"For patients, this means that there are options when it comes to receiving care," says Marcantoni, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and the paper's lead author.

From Science Daily

Despite the study's large sample size, the authors say patients could benefit from further research from multiple countries on safety of these drugs as the landscape of options available to patients changes.

From Science Daily

“All options are on the table,” Thune himself has noted, acknowledging the Senate has a role to play but also suggesting he’s open to bypassing it, if need be.

From Salon

Related Words

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