opt

1 of 2

verb

opted; opting; opts

intransitive verb

: to make a choice
especially : to decide in favor of something
opted for a tax increase Tom Wicker
After perusing the menu he opted for the prime rib.

opt

2 of 2

abbreviation

1
optical; optician; optics
2
option; optional

Examples of opt in a Sentence

Verb after that near catastrophe, they opted to reinstate the telephone service
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Owners can even opt for a cocktail bar with stools. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 24 Mar. 2024 The incumbent white congresswoman, Edna Kelly, opted to run for re-election elsewhere, and onlookers expected the open seat to go to a Black candidate. Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024 Nearby fire departments canceled their mutual aid agreements last year, opting to steer clear of the ongoing turmoil. Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024 The worst of the storm hit on Friday afternoon, but the majority of guests had opted to make a longer weekend of the wedding by arriving that morning or the day before. Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Mar. 2024 The 6-foot-9 forward opted for the Ivy League and earned his Harvard degree in psychology. Jeff Faraudo, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2024 Towards the late aughts, the Princess of Wales would opt for wedges with floral dresses in the summer months. Alex Kessler, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2024 Disney+ renewed Goosebumps for a second season in February, opting to turn the show into an anthology rather than continuing the story from season one. Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2024 With Russian economy far from collapse, U.S. opts for tougher punishment The United Nations in 1990 introduced the index — which blends a population’s life expectancy, years of schooling and per-person income — as a broad gauge of human development. David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'opt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

French opter, from Latin optare

First Known Use

Verb

1853, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of opt was in 1853

Dictionary Entries Near opt

Cite this Entry

“Opt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opt. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

opt

verb
ˈäpt
: to make a choice

Medical Definition

opt

abbreviation
optician

More from Merriam-Webster on opt

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!