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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Recent Examples of optional
Also, an optional private elevator can serve all four floors.
—
David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 21 June 2025
The menu is priced at $95 per person, with an optional wine pairing for $45, and reservations are encouraged.
—Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 19 June 2025
Set realistic expectations—results vary, and acupuncture works best as part of a broader, optional wellness offering rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.
—Irina Logman, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Ekblad fine Defenseman Aaron Ekblad was a full participant in the Panthers’ optional practice on Sunday and said there are no issues with his left hand after blocking a Darnell Nurse shot during the second overtime period of Game 2 on Friday.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for optional
David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 21 June 2025
The menu is priced at $95 per person, with an optional wine pairing for $45, and reservations are encouraged.
—Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 19 June 2025
Set realistic expectations—results vary, and acupuncture works best as part of a broader, optional wellness offering rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.
—Irina Logman, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Ekblad fine Defenseman Aaron Ekblad was a full participant in the Panthers’ optional practice on Sunday and said there are no issues with his left hand after blocking a Darnell Nurse shot during the second overtime period of Game 2 on Friday.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for optional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optional
Adjective
-
In recent days, the U.S. began pulling some diplomats from Iraq’s capital and offering voluntary evacuations for the families of U.S. troops in the wider Middle East.—
Christopher Bodeen,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2025
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Four trans service members who are now in the process of separating said nothing about their decisions feels voluntary at all.—
Jo Yurcaba,
NBC news,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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The researchers also examined previous research on regret following elective surgical procedures.—
Paul McClure
June 11,
New Atlas,
11 June 2025
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Kettering Health, which employs more than 1,800 doctors, said the cyberattack had disrupted its call center and caused the cancellation of elective inpatient and outpatient procedures.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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The entire non-defense discretionary budget amounts to about nine hundred billion dollars—one-seventh of the total.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
16 June 2025
-
One protection now in place is that county supervisors need approval from the wider board before issuing contracts using their discretionary funding.—
Michael Slaten,
Oc Register,
15 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Optional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optional. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.
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