Meaning & use
opt in
Last updated
Meaning
verbintransitive
to choose to join a program, service, or agreement by saying yes, rather than being included automatically
Grammar: No object; often followed by 'to' or 'for': opt in to the plan.
Patterns
- opt in to something
- opt in for something
- opt in to do something
New employees can opt in to the company health plan during their first month.
If you want the weekly newsletter, you need to opt in on the website.
Customers who opt in for text messages will receive a discount code.
Word forms
| third person singular | opts in |
|---|---|
| past tense | opted in |
| past participle | opted in |
| -ing form | opting in |
Common combinations
- opt in to a plan
- You must opt in to the pension plan if you want to save for retirement.
- opt in for updates
- She opted in for updates about new products.
- opt in to receive something
- Please opt in to receive our monthly emails.
- easy to opt in
- The new system makes it easy to opt in.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sign up
- This is more general and can be used for joining a course or club, while 'opt in' often suggests choosing to be included in something you could also refuse.
- enroll
- This is more formal and is used for official registration, such as at a school, not for small choices like email lists.
Opposites
Word family
- opt-out noun
- a choice to leave or not join a program
Commonly confused: opt in or opt out?
opt in vs opt out
'Opt out' means to choose to leave or not join, the opposite of 'opt in'. Do not mix them up: you opt in to receive emails, and you opt out to stop them.
Practice
After the free trial ends, you will automatically be charged unless you ______ the subscription.
Choose one answer.
'Opt out of' means to choose to leave or stop something, which fits the warning about being charged. 'Opt in to' means the opposite, so it would not make sense here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “opt in”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.