option

noun

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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 Phrases Containing option Learn More About option

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The stream quality and reliability isn’t on par with what fuboTV and other streaming platforms offer, but still a great option at this price point. — oregonlive, 25 Sep. 2022 Under the deal, the investors will lease the land for what some might consider a steal: $50 for 50 years, with a 50-year renewal option. — Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 25 Sep. 2022 Thompson-Robinson completed 19 of 23 passes (82.6%) for 234 yards and two touchdowns while also repeatedly burning the Buffaloes on read-option runs that netted 56 yards in seven carries. — Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2022 These headphones are available in open- and closed-back designs, and the brand also offers the T50RP, a semi-open option that offers a flat, clear sound. — Camryn Rabideau, Popular Mechanics, 24 Sep. 2022 The deal announced Saturday includes an option for 2028 that could make the agreement worth $133 million for six seasons. — Tim Booth, ajc, 24 Sep. 2022 If forecasters can give NASA managers confidence the rocket will not be buffeted by winds gusting above 74 knots, the SLS booster may be able to ride out the weather at the pad, preserving the October 2 option. — William Harwood, CBS News, 24 Sep. 2022 In late June, the Cavs exercised Wade’s fourth-year team option. — Chris Fedor, cleveland, 24 Sep. 2022 Another excellent option for a Halloween adventure is visiting a terrifying attraction. — Diana Pearl, Peoplemag, 24 Sep. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Initially, Wattpad Studios would option the rights to books that came from Wattpad Publishing and then hand control over to whichever producer paid for the rights. — Julia Alexander, The Verge, 14 Jan. 2021 The optics weren't good in that Lamet had only recently reached five years of major-league service time, which meant the Brewers were no longer able to simply option him to the minor leagues and retain control of him. — Todd Rosiak, Journal Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2022 There are new restrictions on how often teams can option a player to the minor leagues. — The Enquirer, 21 Aug. 2022 Admission is free, but tickets have a pay-what-you-can option. — Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2022 In one swoop, a tepid Heat summer could match the swelter of Vegas, with plenty of elements that would have to come into play to make either option a possibility. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 July 2022 Most customers will option theirs to about $230,000 – loaded, expect to pay about $255,000. — Michael Harley, Forbes, 11 July 2022 Under terms of the new basic agreement, teams can only option a player to the minors five times during the course of the season. — Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 17 June 2022 The Cubs don’t have a lot of choices to option out among their position players. — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2022 See More

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.

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Last Updated

27 Sep 2022

Cite this Entry

“Option.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/option. Accessed 4 Oct. 2022.

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More Definitions for option

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