choose

1 of 2

verb

ˈchüz 

chose ˈchōz  ; chosen ˈchō-zᵊn  ; choosing ˈchü-ziŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to select freely and after consideration

choose a career

b

: to decide on especially by vote : elect

chose her as captain

2

a

: to have a preference for

choose one car over another

b

: decide

chose to go by train

intransitive verb

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

chooser

ˈchü-zər 

noun

see also:

pick and choose

chooser

2 of 2

noun

choos·​er ˈchü-zər 

plural -s

1

: one that chooses

2

archaic : voter, elector

Synonyms of choose

Verb

• select
• pick
• prefer
• take

Examples of choose in a Sentence

Verb

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Anderson said those households are now choosing items with more protein, and those that give consumers greater control over portion size. — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

Viewers not only can choose which of these versions to watch but, even more unusually, can toggle between them at any time. — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Carefully choosing the right time to go, the best itinerary, the best ship, the best cabin and the best value. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026

Spinnova and Tearfil signed a yarn development agreement in June 2023, choosing the Portuguese spinner’s Guimarães mill as the site for Spinnova’s research and development yarn-spinning line. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English chosen, from Old English cēosan; akin to Old High German kiosan to choose, Latin gustare to taste

Noun

Middle English cheser, from chesen to choose + -er

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing choose

• choose/pick sides
• choose sides
• choose up
• pick and choose
• Pick/choose your poison

Rhymes for choose

• blues
• boos
• booze
• brews
• bruise
• chews
• chuse
• clews
• clues
• coups
• crews
• cruise

Kids Definition

choose

verb

ˈchüz 

chose ˈchōz  ; chosen ˈchōz-ᵊn  ; choosing ˈchü-ziŋ 

1

: to select freely and after consideration

choose a leader

2

: to make a choice : decide

chose to go by train

3

: to see fit

take them if you choose

chooser noun