option

1 of 2

noun

op·tion ˈäp-shən

Synonyms of option next

: an act of choosing

hard to make an option between such alternatives

: the power or right to choose : freedom of choice

He has the option to cancel the deal.

: a privilege of demanding fulfillment of a contract on any day within a specified time

: a contract conveying a right to buy or sell designated securities, commodities, or property interest at a specified price during a stipulated period

also : the right conveyed by an option

The ad is for a condo to rent with an option to buy.

: a right of an insured person to choose the form in which payments due on a policy shall be made or applied

: something that may be chosen: such as

: an alternative course of action

didn't have many options open

: an item that is offered in addition to or in place of standard equipment

A sunroof is one of the options that you can get with the car.

: an offensive football play in which a back (see back entry 1 sense 3) may choose whether to pass or run with the ball

called also option play

option

2 of 2

verb

optioned; optioning; options

transitive verb

: to grant or take an option on

: to acquire the exclusive right to use (an author's work) as the basis for a motion picture

the studio optioned the novel for a film

Choose the Right Synonym for option

choice, option, alternative, preference, selection, election mean the act or opportunity of choosing or the thing chosen.

choice suggests the opportunity or privilege of choosing freely.

freedom of choice

option implies a power to choose that is specifically granted or guaranteed.

the option of paying now or later

alternative implies a need to choose one and reject another possibility.

equally attractive alternatives

preference suggests a choice guided by one's judgment or predilections.

a preference for cool weather

selection implies a range of choice.

a varied selection of furniture

election implies an end or purpose which requires exercise of judgment.

doing a tax return forces certain elections on you

Example Sentences

Noun You have the option of staying home or coming with us. He has the option to cancel the deal. We have a wide range of options available to us. Menu options at the café include soups, salads, and sandwiches. Select an option from the drop-down menu. Filing taxes online is an option for people with Internet access. I had no option but to start over. A good option is to do the work yourself. Employees will each be granted options to buy 1,000 shares of company stock. The option must be exercised within five years. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

With its signature looped yarn, the bohemian-inspired look is incredibly breezy and textured, lightweight, and a super comfy and cooling option for all those balmy days ahead. —

Sophie Dweck, townandcountrymag.com, 18 May 2023 There are, of course, many more options for buyers who aren't inclined to stick to the bare-bones off-roader setup. —

Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, 18 May 2023 Luckily, there are budget-friendly options for all types of sleepers that won't break the bank and don't skimp on comfort, durability or quality. —

Jamie Spain, goodhousekeeping.com, 18 May 2023 These types of drugs reduce the body’s immune response and are sometimes used as a treatment option for severe lupus cases. —

Sara Coughlin, Health, 17 May 2023 Built with a wide, non-slip grip and a Japanese steel blade, this vegetable peeler stands as one of the best options for thick-skinned items in need of peeling such as potatoes, citrus, and squash. —

Tom Price, Popular Mechanics, 17 May 2023 Nesting Box Bird House are budget-friendly options. —

Brandi Fuller, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2023 FuboTV also comes with a variety of shows and movies users can watch on-demand along with the option to record your favorite TV shows. —

Josie Howell | Jhowell@al.com, al, 17 May 2023 Other protein sources like salmon, tuna, and poultry are great options with high protein and low cholesterol. —

Caitlin Pagán, Verywell Health, 17 May 2023

Verb

They are barred from attending meetings or negotiating with the studios, pitching new projects, entering agreements to option their work or even attending promotional events for existing projects. —

Irina Ivanova, CBS News, 2 May 2023 The principle behind the rules, the organization wrote in an email to members, is that writers or their agents may not meet or negotiate with a struck company or provide writing services or sell or option literary material to a struck company. —

Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Apr. 2023 However, the move to option Jameson comes as a surprise. —

Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic, 24 Apr. 2023 Fast-forward to 1994 and for the first time people could option a Mustang with a key fob. —

Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 20 Apr. 2023 The Rangers traded Trevino to the Yankees in April, rather than option him to the minors, after deciding that switch-hitting Heim would split time with Mitch Garver behind the plate. —

Dallas News, 25 June 2022 Laurie Jennings, the General Manager at the GH Institute, tested out this fridge in her home and appreciated its quiet operation, sturdy structure, ability to chill quickly and option to add leveling legs. —

Cassidy Olsen, Good Housekeeping, 31 Mar. 2023 The 15-inch model can also option up to as high as 32GB RAM with an Intel i7 processor and 1TB of storage, currently selling for $1,945 (typically $2,100) on Amazon. —

Corey Gaskin, Ars Technica, 7 Mar. 2023 But roster mechanics prompted the Braves to option both to the minors and give veteran Orlando Arcia the job. —

Jesse Yomtov, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'option.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

French, from Latin option-, optio free choice; akin to Latin optare to choose

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of option was circa 1550

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Option.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/option. Accessed 4 Jun. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

option

noun

op·tion

ˈäp-shən

: the power or right to choose

: a right to buy or sell something at a specified price during a specified period

took an option on the house

: something that may be chosen

a CD player was one of the options on the car

Legal Definition

option

1 of 2 noun

op·tion ˈäp-shən

: the power or right to choose

also : a choice made or available

: a privilege of demanding fulfillment of a contract on any day within a specified time

: a contract conveying in exchange for the payment of a premium a right to buy or sell designated securities, commodities, or interests in property at a specified price during a stipulated period

also : the right conveyed by such a contract

decided to exercise his option

— call option

: an option to buy at a fixed price at or within a certain time compare put option in this entry

— covered option

: an option in which the optionor owns the security or commodity to be conveyed under the option compare naked option in this entry

— futures option

: an option on futures

— incentive stock option \ in-ˈsen-tiv- \

: a stock option granted by a corporation to its officers and employees as supplementary compensation that is subject to special tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code

— index option

: an option on a stock index

— naked option

: an option in which the optionor does not own the security or commodity and will have to purchase it at market price if the optionee decides to exercise the option compare covered option in this entry

— put option

: an option to sell for a fixed price at or within a specified time

— stock option

: an option giving the optionee the right to purchase a specified number of shares of stock from a corporation at a specified price at or within a specified time see also incentive stock option in this entry

: a right of an insured to choose the form in which various payments due him or her on a policy shall be made or applied

— dividend option

: an option allowing the owner of a participating insurance policy and especially a life insurance policy to determine how dividends are to be paid (as in cash or by being applied as payment for additional insurance)

— installments-for-a-fixed-amount option

: a settlement option in which the insurer retains the policy proceeds and makes periodic payments of a fixed amount until the proceeds are exhausted

called also fixed amount option

— installments-for-a-fixed-period option

: a settlement option in which the policy proceeds are retained by the insurer and paid in installments over a fixed period of time

called also fixed period option

— interest-only option

: a settlement option in which the insurer retains the policy proceeds and makes interest payments at a guaranteed minimum rate

— joint-and-last-survivorship option

: an option in which the insurer makes periodic payments to two or more persons (as a husband and wife) of the proceeds or usually cash value of a policy until the death of the last survivor

— life income option

: a settlement option in which the insurer retains the policy proceeds and makes periodic payments for the beneficiary's life or for a specified number of years even after the beneficiary's death with payments to a different recipient

— nonforfeiture option \ ˌnän-ˈfȯr-fə-ˌchu̇r- \

: an option (as to surrender the policy for its cash value or convert the policy to one with a smaller face amount or to a term policy with a shorter period) available to a policyholder who has ceased paying premiums

— settlement option

: an option to receive payments of the proceeds of a life insurance policy other than by lump sum