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
Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
Others are opting to un-celebrate and, instead, to denigrate the anniversary, following the logic of Nikole Hannah-Jones’s original introduction to the 1619 Project, which cast the Revolution as regrettable.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
Though Judge and Simon were legally granted equal custody of their three children upon their split, Judge relinquished custody of Sidney to Simon after their daughter opted to live with him full time.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
Dallas is 28th in offensive rebounding, opting for getting back in transition to stop fast-break points (tied for 10th in transition defense).
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opt
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Nations previously interested in buying Russian aircraft have opted for Chinese or NATO offerings instead, like India choosing France's Rafale jet.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
Others are opting to un-celebrate and, instead, to denigrate the anniversary, following the logic of Nikole Hannah-Jones’s original introduction to the 1619 Project, which cast the Revolution as regrettable.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
Though Judge and Simon were legally granted equal custody of their three children upon their split, Judge relinquished custody of Sidney to Simon after their daughter opted to live with him full time.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
Dallas is 28th in offensive rebounding, opting for getting back in transition to stop fast-break points (tied for 10th in transition defense).
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opt
Cite this Entry
“Opt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opt. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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