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
Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 22 Dec. 2025
Utilize condiments like pesto or hummus for the base of your salad wreath, or opt to use ingredients to shape your base, like spreadable cheese, smashed avocado, or Dijon mustard.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Dec. 2025
Driver — who joins Emily in Paris as Princess Jane, an influencer and friend of Sylvie Grateau (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu) who married into a royal family — welcomed Henry in September 2008 and has opted to keep the father’s identity private.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025
Many change their bedding with the seasons, opting for cooling fabrics in the hot months of summer and warmer flannel ones for winter.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opt
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
And although Sununu rejected national Senate Republicans’ efforts to recruit him against Hassan’s 2022 reelection and opted instead for a fourth term as governor, the two have traded plenty of campaign barbs.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 22 Dec. 2025
Utilize condiments like pesto or hummus for the base of your salad wreath, or opt to use ingredients to shape your base, like spreadable cheese, smashed avocado, or Dijon mustard.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Dec. 2025
Driver — who joins Emily in Paris as Princess Jane, an influencer and friend of Sylvie Grateau (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu) who married into a royal family — welcomed Henry in September 2008 and has opted to keep the father’s identity private.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025
Many change their bedding with the seasons, opting for cooling fabrics in the hot months of summer and warmer flannel ones for winter.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 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 25 Dec. 2025.
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