1
2
a
: to have a preference for
choose one car over another
b
: decide
chose to go by train
1
: to make a selection
finding it hard to choose
2
: to take an alternative
—used after cannot and usually followed by but
when earth is so kind, men cannot choose but be happy—
J. A. Froude
J. A. FroudeExamples of choose in a Sentence
Each year thousands of college students choose volunteer-service trips over beach bumming during their spring breaks and summer vacations.
—Edward M. Kennedy, Time, 22 Sept. 2008
I had been invited to choose certain things that I might want from the house, but although there were indeed a couple of things that I would have liked, I was withheld from making the trip …
—Alice Adams, "Why I Write,"
in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987
… as an instructor at New York University he chose to live by himself in lodgings that for the time must have been very expensive …
—William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982
Any summary I might try to write for the rest of the novel would be worthless and I don't choose to waste my time at it.
—Flannery O'Connor, The Habit of Being, 1979
The political party chose a leader.
They chose her as the team captain.
We've chosen a different time to go.
He was chosen because he's qualified for the job.
She was chosen from a long list of people.
He chose his words carefully.
Which shirt would you choose?
How do I choose when there's so much available?
Let everyone choose for themselves.
You can choose from among a number of alternatives.
Edward M. Kennedy, Time, 22 Sept. 2008
I had been invited to choose certain things that I might want from the house, but although there were indeed a couple of things that I would have liked, I was withheld from making the trip …
—Alice Adams, "Why I Write,"
in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987
… as an instructor at New York University he chose to live by himself in lodgings that for the time must have been very expensive …
—William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982
Any summary I might try to write for the rest of the novel would be worthless and I don't choose to waste my time at it.
—Flannery O'Connor, The Habit of Being, 1979
The political party chose a leader.
They chose her as the team captain.
We've chosen a different time to go.
He was chosen because he's qualified for the job.
She was chosen from a long list of people.
He chose his words carefully.
Which shirt would you choose?
How do I choose when there's so much available?
Let everyone choose for themselves.
You can choose from among a number of alternatives.
Recent Examples on the Web
The wide availability of options allows men to choose the approach best suited to their individual needs.
—Rhiannon Frater, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
As for Carlisle’s claim that the results aren’t reflective of reality because not every player chose to take part in that particular question, that’s odd logic to levy.
—Sam Amick, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Only in private did the longtime hedge fund manager work to persuade the president to place a partial pause on the rate hikes, a move that Trump ultimately chose when faced with the prospect of an imminent economic crisis.
—Michael Wilner, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025
But health risks aren’t the only reason many Americans are choosing mocktails over cocktails.
—Maya Richard-Craven, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for choose
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Rhiannon Frater, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
As for Carlisle’s claim that the results aren’t reflective of reality because not every player chose to take part in that particular question, that’s odd logic to levy.
—Sam Amick, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Only in private did the longtime hedge fund manager work to persuade the president to place a partial pause on the rate hikes, a move that Trump ultimately chose when faced with the prospect of an imminent economic crisis.
—Michael Wilner, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025
But health risks aren’t the only reason many Americans are choosing mocktails over cocktails.
—Maya Richard-Craven, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for choose
Cite this Entry
“Choose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/choose. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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