opt

1 of 2

verb

ˈäpt 

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

Synonyms of opt

Verb

• choose
• decide
• figure

Examples of opt in a Sentence

Verb

after that near catastrophe, they opted to reinstate the telephone service

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

With midterm elections and the holiday season approaching, more prospective issuers could opt to wait until early 2027. — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026

Both Brown and Bongiovi opted for full monochromatic looks for their date night. — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026

Prior to 2026, most folding phones opted for a tall-and-narrow shape to optimize for using vertical apps on the cover screen. — Nilay Patel, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026

De Palma opted to end Carrie with one of the best jump scares in film. — ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

French opter, from Latin optare

First Known Use

Verb

1853, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing opt

• co-opt
• opt in
• opt out

Rhymes for opt

• chopped
• cropped
• dropped
• dropt
• flopped
• hopped
• lopped
• mopped
• plopped
• popped
• propped
• shopped

Kids Definition

opt

verb

ˈäpt

: to make a choice

Medical Definition

opt

abbreviation

optician