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
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.
—
Walden Green, Pitchfork, 13 May 2025
The Skylight Calendar, which can cost $170 to $630, depending on size, all with an optional $79 annual subscription fee to unlock special features, would make our scheduling conflicts impossible to ignore.
—Eliza Shapiro, New York Times, 12 May 2025
In addition to the standard coverage options, Geico offers various optional add-ons, such as emergency roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement and mechanical breakdown insurance.
—Brian Sloan, CNBC, 12 May 2025
Entry fee is $50 per team and an optional $10 for big bass.
—Flip Putthoff, Arkansas Online, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for optional
Walden Green, Pitchfork, 13 May 2025
The Skylight Calendar, which can cost $170 to $630, depending on size, all with an optional $79 annual subscription fee to unlock special features, would make our scheduling conflicts impossible to ignore.
—Eliza Shapiro, New York Times, 12 May 2025
In addition to the standard coverage options, Geico offers various optional add-ons, such as emergency roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement and mechanical breakdown insurance.
—Brian Sloan, CNBC, 12 May 2025
Entry fee is $50 per team and an optional $10 for big bass.
—Flip Putthoff, Arkansas Online, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for optional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optional
Adjective
-
First, the team worked with cat owners to obtain voluntary samples.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
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An estimated 76,000 people, or 16.6 percent over the age of 65, are living with Alzheimer’s in Miami-Dade County according to research by Alzheimer’s Association, the worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to care, support and research.—
CHRISTINA MAYO,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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The Torment system is a fully elective system that adds four new tiers of difficulty to the previously existing four.—
Alan Bradley,
ArsTechnica,
17 Apr. 2025
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Coleman, 50, ousted an incumbent City Council member two years ago to start his career in elective office.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Even with the reductions, 2026 discretionary spending would remain essentially unchanged at $1.6 trillion.—
Veronique de Rugy,
Twin Cities,
13 May 2025
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The discretionary nature of the revisions should also allow schools to navigate any Title IX requirements that might arise.—
Justin Williams,
New York Times,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Optional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optional. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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