option

noun

Save Word

op·tion | \ ˈäp-shən

Definition of option

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : an act of choosing hard to make an option between such alternatives

2a : 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

verb

optioned; optioning; options

Definition of option (Entry 2 of 2)

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 motion picture the studio optioned the novel for a film

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about option

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for option

Noun

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 Fairies 300 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle ($14.95; barnesandnoble.com) Start off with an easy 300-piece puzzle with this option from Barnes & Noble that depicts a dreamy fairy land. — Kai Burkhardt, CNN Underscored, "20 gorgeous puzzles that will keep you occupied for hours," 18 Aug. 2020 Tickets are limited and are sold on a per day, per time-period basis with the option to purchase an Ultimate Adventure toy bag for $29. — Annie Alleman, chicagotribune.com, "Have a drive-by Dinosaur Adventure at DuPage fairgrounds," 17 Aug. 2020 Fortunately, Flight Simulator plays smoothly with just an Xbox controller, along with the option to use a mouse or keyboard for supplementary commands. — Mark Hachman, PCWorld, "Flight Simulator: Microsoft's breathtaking virtual, real world," 17 Aug. 2020 In 2015 Hershey’s presented Fontenot with the option of accepting an early exit package from the company. — Michael Alberty | For The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, "Authentic Cajun soda company makes its new home in Oregon," 15 Aug. 2020 With a one year option to extend, the ultimate bill would top $2 million. — Hannah Morse And Alexandra Clough, USA TODAY, "Florida sheriff funds $35,000-a-month luxury office with 'the money we take from the bad guys'," 14 Aug. 2020 As more and more Indiana districts start their school year, most are doing so with the option of in-person, making their students among the first in the country to return to classrooms. — Arika Herron, The Indianapolis Star, "There's been over 100 COVID-19 cases across dozens of school buildings. Is it safe?," 13 Aug. 2020 But some consent banners simply ask you to accept the privacy policies—with no option to say no. — Arielle Pardes, Wired, "How Facebook and Other Sites Manipulate Your Privacy Choices," 12 Aug. 2020 Even with that option, though, two Miami seniors on the baseball team, pitchers Brian Van Belle and Tyler Keysor, signed professional contracts instead of returning to Coral Gables for an extra senior season. — David Furones, sun-sentinel.com, "How would a postponed college football season impact Miami Hurricanes players with eligibility, NFL draft?," 11 Aug. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Better Noise Films has also optioned books like Nikki Sixx’s The Heroin Diaries and a sci-fi story, Perfect New World. — Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, "Music Producer Allen Kovac Launches Better Noise Films," 16 Apr. 2020 Barring an injury that requires him to be recalled sooner, a player has to remain in the minors 10 days after being optioned. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Padres notes: Runs after walks; flight delay; Martini arrives; Myers starts," 29 Aug. 2019 Smith, meanwhile, rejoins the Brewers after being optioned out on Saturday. — Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Brandon Woodruff is out for six weeks. What will the Brewers do without him?," 22 July 2019 The car has a 5.0-liter V8 engine, optioned with the 4-speed automatic transmission and 51,092 original miles. — Lorraine Longhi, azcentral, "Barrett-Jackson: 10 cool cars, trucks and even a motorbike that will cross the auction block on Monday in Scottsdale," 13 Jan. 2020 Cardinals: RHP Junior Fernandez was optioned to Memphis following Wednesday night’s game after throwing two scoreless innings. — Joe Harris, The Denver Post, "Rockies fall short against Cardinals as bullpen collapses again," 22 Aug. 2019 Before rosters were frozen Friday by the new agreement between Major League Baseball and the players association, the Milwaukee Brewers further reduced their spring training roster by optioning five players to the minors. — Tom Haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Brewers option five players to the minors before rosters are frozen for a period," 27 Mar. 2020 By optioning players now, a team can guarantee itself a little more flexibility when the game does return. — Evan Grant, Dallas News, "Rangers option Taylor Hearn, Scott Heineman to Triple-A Nashville," 26 Mar. 2020 But by the 1960s, Lucy had fallen into substantial disrepair, prompting the city to option her demolition, reports Tanner Saunders for Travel and Leisure. — Katherine J. Wu, Smithsonian Magazine, "Spend a Night in This 65-Foot-Tall, Elephant-Shaped Airbnb," 4 Mar. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'option.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about option

Dictionary Entries near option

Statistics for option

Last Updated

21 Aug 2020

Cite this Entry

“Option.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/option. Accessed 22 Aug. 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for option

option

noun

English Language Learners Definition of option

: the opportunity or ability to choose something or to choose between two or more things

: something that can be chosen : a choice or possibility

: a right to buy or sell something for a specified price during a specified period of time

See the full definition for option in the English Language Learners Dictionary

option

noun

op·tion | \ ˈäp-shən

Kids Definition of option

1 : the power or right to choose Children have an option between milk or juice.

2 : something that can be chosen Quitting is not an option.

3 : a right to buy or sell something at a specified price during a specified period His parents took an option on the house.

option

noun

op·tion | \ ˈäp-shən

Legal Definition of option

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

transitive verb

Legal Definition of option (Entry 2 of 2)

: to grant or take an option on started buying or optioning riverfront land— Rita Koselka

Keep scrolling for more