as in voluntary
subject to one's freedom of choice
at the resort all recreational activities are optional, and you may choose to participate in none of them
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of optional
The dinner is $125 per person, with an optional beverage pairing offered for an additional $55.
—
Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 21 Oct. 2025
And, the spokesperson stressed, the extra fees are optional.
—NPR, 21 Oct. 2025
Vests are optional for drivers as of now.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Some of these technologies are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of the service or website and cannot be disabled, while others are optional but serve to enhance the user experience in various ways.
—Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for optional
Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 21 Oct. 2025
And, the spokesperson stressed, the extra fees are optional.
—NPR, 21 Oct. 2025
Vests are optional for drivers as of now.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Some of these technologies are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of the service or website and cannot be disabled, while others are optional but serve to enhance the user experience in various ways.
—Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for optional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optional
Adjective
-
The Rockets, who surprisingly finished second in the West behind Oklahoma City last season, were dealt a tough blow over the summer, though, when point guard Fred VanVleet was lost for the season to a torn ACL suffered during a voluntary workout.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Wegmans Food Markets issued a voluntary recall of six varieties of cheesecake on September 26 because of undeclared pecans.—
News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Kaiser hospitals and medical offices would remain open, though some appointments would be shifted from in-person to virtual, and some elective care would be postponed, Sims said.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Some appointments, including elective surgeries, may be rescheduled, while others will be shifted to virtual care, said Lionel Sims, senior vice president of human resources for Kaiser Permanente Northern California.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This means, cutting back on takeout and cooking more at home, pausing a couple extracurricular activities, and cutting all discretionary shopping.—
Hannah Nwoko,
Parents,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Sanogo said that, when individuals do not have the resources to buy everyday essentials or discretionary luxuries, seeing others treat expensive items casually can create feelings of scarcity, which may lead to envy or resentment.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Optional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optional. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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