option

noun

OPAL WOPAL S

/ˈɒpʃn/

/ˈɑːpʃn/

Idioms

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[countable, uncountable] something that you can choose to have or do; the freedom to choose what you do
- As I see it, we have two options…
- There are various options open to you.
- to explore/consider/look at all your options
- We are currently studying all the options available.
- Going to college was not an option for me.
- Selling the house was our only option.
- Waiting a year may be your best option.
- We felt this was the most viable option.
- I had no option but to (= I had to) ask him to leave.
- option of doing something Students have the option of studying abroad in their second year.
- option of something He was given one month’s imprisonment without the option of a fine.
- option to do something A savings plan that gives you the option to vary your monthly payments.
- This particular model comes with a wide range of options (= things you can choose to have when buying something but which you will have to pay extra for).
- In most cases, I would go for the cheaper option.
- Farming is not an attractive career option for many young people.
- The poor villagers are left with no option but to risk their lives.
- Your doctor will discuss treatment options with you.
- Failure is not an option.
Synonyms option
option
- choice
- alternative
- possibility
These are all words for something that you choose to do in a particular situation.
- option something that you can choose to have or do; the freedom to choose what you do:
  As I see it, we have two options…
  Students have the option of studying abroad in their second year.
  Option is also the word used in computing for one of the choices you can make when using a computer program: Choose the ‘Cut’ option from the Edit menu.
- choice the freedom to choose what you do; something that you can choose to have or do:
  If I had the choice, I would stop working tomorrow.
  There is a wide range of choices open to you.
- alternative something that you can choose to have or do out of two or more possibilities:
  You can be paid in cash weekly or by cheque monthly: those are the two alternatives.
option, choice or alternative?Choice is slightly less formal than option and alternative is slightly more formal. Choice is most often used for ‘the freedom to choose’, although you can sometimes also use option (but not usually alternative): If I had the choice/option, I would… • If I had the alternative, I would… • parental choice in education • parental option/alternative in education . Things that you can choose are options, choices or alternatives. However, alternative is more frequently used to talk about choosing between two things rather than several.
- possibility one of the different things that you can do in a particular situation:
  We need to explore a wide range of possibilities.
  The possibilities are endless.
  Possibility can be used in a similar way to option, choice and alternative, but the emphasis here is less on the need to make a choice, and more on what is available.
Patterns
- with/without the option/choice/possibility of something
- a(n) good/acceptable/reasonable/possible option/choice/alternative
- the only option/choice/alternative/possibility open to somebody
- to have a/an/the option/choice of doing something
- to have no option/choice/alternative but to do something
- a number/range of options/choices/alternatives/possibilities
see also nuclear option
Extra Examples
- Deciding on your best option is not easy.
- Resignation was her only option.
- You have the option of taking your holiday early.
- You have the option of working full-time or part-time.
Topics Preferences and decisionsa2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- available
- possible
- viable
- …
verb + option
- choose
- exercise
- select
- …
phrases
- keep your options open
- leave your options open
See full entry
[countable] a subject that a student can choose to study, but that they do not have to do
- The course offers options in design and computing.
Topics Preferences and decisionsa2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- available
- possible
- viable
- …
verb + option
- choose
- exercise
- select
- …
phrases
- keep your options open
- leave your options open
See full entry
[countable] the right to buy or sell something at some time in the future
- share options (= the right to buy shares in a company)
- option on something We have an option on the house.
- He has promised me first option on his car (= the opportunity to buy it before anyone else).
- option to do something The property is for rent with an option to buy at any time.
- They exercised an option on their lease to buy the building.
- She took up an option in her contract to buy three million shares.
see also share option, stock optionTopics Moneyc2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- first
- share
- stock
- …
verb + option
- have
- exercise
- take
- …
preposition
- option on
See full entry
[countable] (computing) one of the choices you can make when using a computer program
- Choose the ‘Cut’ option from the Edit menu.
- Look at the on-screen menu and select the ‘File’ option.
Topics Computersa2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- available
- possible
- viable
- …
verb + option
- choose
- exercise
- select
- …
phrases
- keep your options open
- leave your options open
See full entry

Word Originmid 16th cent.: from French, or from Latin optio(n-), from the stem of optare ‘choose’.

Idioms

keep/leave your options open

to avoid making a decision now so that you still have a choice in the future
- At the moment I'm keeping my options open and applying for as many different jobs as possible.
Topics Preferences and decisionsc2

a/an/the soft/easy option

(often disapproving) a choice that is thought to be easier because it involves less effort, difficulty, etc.
- They are anxious that the new course should not be seen as a soft option.
- He decided to take the easy option and give them what they wanted.
- She could have taken the easy option and left.
Topics Preferences and decisionsc2