Meaning & use
option
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Meanings
nouncountable
One of the choices you have in a situation.
Grammar: Countable: several options; often followed by of or for.
Patterns
- an option for something
- have the option of doing something
- the best option
Taking the train is a cheaper option than flying.
You have the option of paying monthly.
We looked at every option before deciding.
noununcountable
The freedom or right to choose.
Grammar: Often in phrases like have no option.
Patterns
- have no option
- keep your options open
I had no option but to leave early.
He kept his options open until the offer arrived.
The soldier was given the option to retire.
nouncountable
An extra feature you can pay for, or a school subject you may choose.
Grammar: Often plural in car sales: leather seats are an option.
Patterns
- an optional extra
- a course option
Heated seats are an option on this model.
She chose drama as her option in the second year.
A bigger screen is available as an option.
nouncountablefinancebusiness
In finance, a contract giving the right but not the duty to buy or sell something at a set price by a set date.
Grammar: Used in trading: a call option.
Patterns
- a call option
- a put option
- exercise an option
He bought a call option on the company's shares.
The option expires next Friday.
Traders use options to guard against price drops.
Word forms
| plural | options |
|---|
Common combinations
- keep your options open
- She kept her options open and applied to several schools.
- have no option
- We had no option but to close the shop.
- a viable option
- Solar power is now a viable option for many homes.
- the best option
- Going by bus is the best option at this hour.
- weigh your options
- Take time to weigh your options before you sign.
- an easy option
- Quitting is the easy option.
Synonyms and how they differ
- choice
- Choice can mean the act of choosing or the thing chosen, while option is one of the available possibilities.
- alternative
- Alternative often implies a second choice replacing the first.
- possibility
- Possibility is something that could happen, not necessarily something you can choose.
- selection
- Selection often means a range to pick from, in a shop or menu.
Opposites
Word family
- optional adjective
- not required
- opt verb
- to choose
- optionally adverb
- as a choice
- non-optional adjective
- required
Commonly confused: option or opinion? option or adoption?
option vs opinion
An opinion is a view you hold, while an option is a choice you can make.
option vs adoption
Adoption is the act of taking something or someone as your own, not a choice among several.
Practice
With the road closed, we had no ___ but to walk home.
Choose one answer.
No option but to means no other choice. Opinion has a different meaning, and optional and adopt are the wrong parts of speech.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “option”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.