opted; opting; opts
: to make a choice
especially
: to decide in favor of something
… opted for a tax increase … —
Tom Wicker
Tom Wicker After perusing the menu he opted for the prime rib.
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
Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Cybersecurity expert Tracey Hawkins said consumers should read the fine print before opting into new programs and understand how their data may be used.
—Abby Dodge, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
The show opts not to show the murder itself.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 1 Apr. 2026
Cole, 30, offset her Elie Saab Haute Couture piece with a more demure look, opting for a pair of deep brown trousers with a matching suit jacket.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for opt
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Increasingly, judges are opting to sanction lawyers who submit briefs tainted by AI errors, Moylan said, sometimes fining those who refuse to admit wrongdoing or referring them to their state’s bar association for disciplinary actions.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Cybersecurity expert Tracey Hawkins said consumers should read the fine print before opting into new programs and understand how their data may be used.
—Abby Dodge, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
The show opts not to show the murder itself.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 1 Apr. 2026
Cole, 30, offset her Elie Saab Haute Couture piece with a more demure look, opting for a pair of deep brown trousers with a matching suit jacket.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for opt
Cite this Entry
“Opt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opt. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
