by choice
idiom
variants
or less commonly out of choice
: because one wants to
I live here by choice.
No one forced them to do it. They acted out of choice.
Examples of by choice in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The bottom of the ninth has been relived, not always by choice, by the two teams and by generations of fans.
—
Hillel Italie, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
Some of these scenarios would be more painful than others for the Bulls, who likely will sink next season into another losing endeavor — perhaps by choice, perhaps by the sheer reality of their roster’s lack of talent.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026
This belief sits within a broader landscape shaped by choice.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
This newfound flexibility in the fragrance category feels especially resonant at a moment when, as Lim describes, the era of committing to a single signature fragrance has given way to a more fluid approach—one defined by choice and context.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for by choice
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.
Hillel Italie, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
Some of these scenarios would be more painful than others for the Bulls, who likely will sink next season into another losing endeavor — perhaps by choice, perhaps by the sheer reality of their roster’s lack of talent.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026
This belief sits within a broader landscape shaped by choice.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
This newfound flexibility in the fragrance category feels especially resonant at a moment when, as Lim describes, the era of committing to a single signature fragrance has given way to a more fluid approach—one defined by choice and context.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for by choice
Cite this Entry
“By choice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20choice. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
