option

1 of 2

noun

op·​tion ˈäp-shən 

1

: an act of choosing

hard to make an option between such alternatives

2

a

: the power or right to choose : freedom of choice

He has the option to cancel the deal.

b

: a privilege of demanding fulfillment of a contract on any day within a specified time

c

: a contract conveying a right to buy or sell designated securities, commodities, or property interest at a specified price during a stipulated period

also : the right conveyed by an option

The ad is for a condo to rent with an option to buy.

d

: a right of an insured person to choose the form in which payments due on a policy shall be made or applied

3

: something that may be chosen: such as

a

: an alternative course of action

didn't have many options open

b

: an item that is offered in addition to or in place of standard equipment

A sunroof is one of the options that you can get with the car.

4

: an offensive football play in which a back (see back entry 1 sense 3) may choose whether to pass or run with the ball

called also option play

option

2 of 2

verb

optioned; optioning; options

transitive verb

1

: to grant or take an option on

2

: to acquire the exclusive right to use (an author's work) as the basis for a movie

the studio optioned the novel for a film

Synonyms

Noun

• accessory
• appliance
• add-on

Choose the Right Synonym for option

choice, option, alternative, preference, selection, election mean the act or opportunity of choosing or the thing chosen.

choice suggests the opportunity or privilege of choosing freely.

freedom of choice

option implies a power to choose that is specifically granted or guaranteed.

the option of paying now or later

alternative implies a need to choose one and reject another possibility.

equally attractive alternatives

preference suggests a choice guided by one's judgment or predilections.

a preference for cool weather

selection implies a range of choice.

a varied selection of furniture

election implies an end or purpose which requires exercise of judgment.

doing a tax return forces certain elections on you

Examples of option in a Sentence

Noun

You have the option of staying home or coming with us.

He has the option to cancel the deal.

We have a wide range of options available to us.

Menu options at the café include soups, salads, and sandwiches.

Select an option from the drop-down menu.

Filing taxes online is an option for people with Internet access.

I had no option but to start over.

A good option is to do the work yourself.

Employees will each be granted options to buy 1,000 shares of company stock.

The option must be exercised within five years.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The combination of limited production capacity and expensive weapons sometimes constrained the government’s options. —Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 July 2025

The Colorado college town beat out Cincinnati and Salt Lake City after the festival brass started exploring relocation options in 2024, with Boulder chosen for its mountain views reminiscent of Park City’s own as well as its vibrant arts community. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 July 2025

Verb

However, with Sheehan not yet fully built up, the club elected to option him back to triple A and have Wrobleski pitch twice in a six-day span this week, with a five-inning, two-run outing in Colorado on Tuesday preceding Sunday’s gem in Kansas City. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025

And the decision to option struggling closer Camilo Doval, whose disinterest in competing in non-save situations was almost as big an issue as his career-worst walk rate, signaled that players really are being held accountable under manager Bob Melvin. —Andrew Baggarly, The Athletic, 10 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

French, from Latin option-, optio free choice; akin to Latin optare to choose

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing option

• leave (someone) (with) no option
• local option
• nuclear option
• option to buy
• share option
• stock option
• taken an option on

Rhymes for option

• adoption

Kids Definition

option

noun

op·​tion

ˈäp-shən

1

: the power or right to choose

2

: a right to buy or sell something at a specified price during a specified period

took an option on the house

3

: something that may be chosen

a CD player was one of the options on the car

Legal Definition

option

1 of 2 noun

op·​tion ˈäp-shən 

1

: the power or right to choose

also : a choice made or available

2

: a privilege of demanding fulfillment of a contract on any day within a specified time

3

: a contract conveying in exchange for the payment of a premium a right to buy or sell designated securities, commodities, or interests in property at a specified price during a stipulated period

also : the right conveyed by such a contract

decided to exercise his option

— call option

: an option to buy at a fixed price at or within a certain time compare put option in this entry

— covered option

: an option in which the optionor owns the security or commodity to be conveyed under the option compare naked option in this entry

— futures option

: an option on futures

— incentive stock option \ in-​ˈsen-​tiv-​ \

: a stock option granted by a corporation to its officers and employees as supplementary compensation that is subject to special tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code

— index option

: an option on a stock index

— naked option

: an option in which the optionor does not own the security or commodity and will have to purchase it at market price if the optionee decides to exercise the option compare covered option in this entry

— put option

: an option to sell for a fixed price at or within a specified time

— stock option

: an option giving the optionee the right to purchase a specified number of shares of stock from a corporation at a specified price at or within a specified time see also incentive stock option in this entry

4

: a right of an insured to choose the form in which various payments due him or her on a policy shall be made or applied

— dividend option

: an option allowing the owner of a participating insurance policy and especially a life insurance policy to determine how dividends are to be paid (as in cash or by being applied as payment for additional insurance)

— installments-for-a-fixed-amount option

: a settlement option in which the insurer retains the policy proceeds and makes periodic payments of a fixed amount until the proceeds are exhausted

called also fixed amount option

— installments-for-a-fixed-period option

: a settlement option in which the policy proceeds are retained by the insurer and paid in installments over a fixed period of time

called also fixed period option

— interest-only option

: a settlement option in which the insurer retains the policy proceeds and makes interest payments at a guaranteed minimum rate

— joint-and-last-survivorship option

: an option in which the insurer makes periodic payments to two or more persons (as a husband and wife) of the proceeds or usually cash value of a policy until the death of the last survivor

— life income option

: a settlement option in which the insurer retains the policy proceeds and makes periodic payments for the beneficiary's life or for a specified number of years even after the beneficiary's death with payments to a different recipient

— nonforfeiture option \ ˌnän-​ˈfȯr-​fə-​ˌchu̇r-​ \

: an option (as to surrender the policy for its cash value or convert the policy to one with a smaller face amount or to a term policy with a shorter period) available to a policyholder who has ceased paying premiums

— settlement option

: an option to receive payments of the proceeds of a life insurance policy other than by lump sum

option

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to grant or take an option on

started buying or optioning riverfront land

—Rita Koselka