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
Proceeds benefit local charities through The Woman’s Club of Casselberry. 2 p.m. the second and fourth Sunday of the month, The Woman’s Club of Casselberry, 251 Overbrook Drive, Casselberry, $5 for 10 games plus two optional bonus games, 407-947-2747.
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Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 July 2025
Other optional extras available for the Luna include choosing the materials used, and a deck area.
—Adam Williams
july 23, New Atlas, 23 July 2025
Bonus content includes a behind-the-scenes look at the airplane and ocean stunts, deleted footage montage with optional commentary by director Christopher McQuarrie, the challenges of filming the technical and extremely dangerous stunts and an in-depth discussion with McQuarrie and Cruise.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 22 July 2025
The remote in question is the second-generation Roku Voice Remote Pro, the company’s high-end remote also included with the Roku Ultra and the 2024 Roku Pro Series TV, and available as an optional $30 accessory for Roku’s other TVs and media streamers.
—PC Magazine, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for optional
Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 July 2025
Other optional extras available for the Luna include choosing the materials used, and a deck area.
—Adam Williams
july 23, New Atlas, 23 July 2025
Bonus content includes a behind-the-scenes look at the airplane and ocean stunts, deleted footage montage with optional commentary by director Christopher McQuarrie, the challenges of filming the technical and extremely dangerous stunts and an in-depth discussion with McQuarrie and Cruise.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 22 July 2025
The remote in question is the second-generation Roku Voice Remote Pro, the company’s high-end remote also included with the Roku Ultra and the 2024 Roku Pro Series TV, and available as an optional $30 accessory for Roku’s other TVs and media streamers.
—PC Magazine, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for optional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optional
Adjective
-
Viewers and listeners of PBS and NPR are significantly more affluent than the average American, which gives them the means to support public broadcasting through voluntary contributions.—
The Editors,
National Review,
14 July 2025
-
On June 9, Alma Pak International LLC announced a voluntary recall of 400 boxes of its organic blueberries due to the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.—
Raven Brunner,
People.com,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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Because cosmetic surgery is elective, insurance doesn’t cover it.—
Fred Schulte,
Miami Herald,
29 July 2025
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Overall performances have been erratic: defence an elective choice, moments of brightness ultimately descending into bodies desperate flailing onto the grass, good chances agonisingly missed.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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For example, taking out a mortgage for a home or student loans for your education are typically advantageous as an investment, while most credit card debt and personal loans for discretionary spending are considered bad debt.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
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Those trends continued into the second quarter and constitute a clear warning sign largely being overlooked, namely that households are indeed reducing their discretionary spending, according to the note.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
20 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Optional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optional. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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