1
: to decide that a particular person or thing is the one that you want
The political party chose a leader.
They chose her as the team captain.
We've chosen a different time to go.
He was chosen because he's qualified for the job.
She was chosen from a long list of people.
He chose his words carefully.
Which shirt would you choose?
How do I choose when there's so much available?
Let everyone choose for themselves.
You can choose from among a number of alternatives.
You'll have to choose between the two of them.
There are several books available to choose from.
2
: to make a choice about what to do : decide
—usually followed by to + verb
They chose to go by train.
They chose not to believe it.
They chose to keep quiet.
She chooses to work in the city.
You can do as you choose. [=you can do what you want to do]
Cite this Entry
“Choose.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/choose. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.
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