choose

verb

chose ˈchōz How to pronounce choose (audio) ; chosen ˈchō-zᵊn How to pronounce choose (audio) ; choosing ˈchü-ziŋ How to pronounce choose (audio)

transitive verb

1
a
: to select freely and after consideration
choose a career
b
: to decide on especially by vote : elect
chose her as captain
2
a
: to have a preference for
choose one car over another
b
: decide
chose to go by train

intransitive verb

1
: to make a selection
finding it hard to choose
2
: to take an alternative
used after cannot and usually followed by but
when earth is so kind, men cannot choose but be happyJ. A. Froude
chooser noun

Examples of choose in a Sentence

Each year thousands of college students choose volunteer-service trips over beach bumming during their spring breaks and summer vacations. Edward M. Kennedy, Time, 22 Sept. 2008
I had been invited to choose certain things that I might want from the house, but although there were indeed a couple of things that I would have liked, I was withheld from making the trip … Alice Adams, "Why I Write," in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters1987
… as an instructor at New York University he chose to live by himself in lodgings that for the time must have been very expensive … William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982
Any summary I might try to write for the rest of the novel would be worthless and I don't choose to waste my time at it. Flannery O'Connor, The Habit of Being, 1979
The political party chose a leader. They chose her as the team captain. We've chosen a different time to go. He was chosen because he's qualified for the job. She was chosen from a long list of people. He chose his words carefully. Which shirt would you choose? How do I choose when there's so much available? Let everyone choose for themselves. You can choose from among a number of alternatives.
Recent Examples on the Web Here's how to get tickets to the concert How does the 'Bachelorette' get chosen? Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 26 Mar. 2024 The city has seen many financial services and tech companies choose Nashville. Jenny Rudolph, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2024 Designers love these swatches and the multiplicity of weaves to choose from. Rachel Dickinson, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024 About 3,590 chose that option on the Democratic side, and 11,246 on the Republican side, where Trump was the only remaining candidate. Tamia Fowlkes, Journal Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2024 Available in stick-on styles (compatible with most smartphone models) and magnetic designs (compatible only with MagSafe devices and cases), there are tons of phone wallets to choose from, depending on your preference. Natalie Alcala, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Mar. 2024 What is Spellbound like? Guests will start the evening with dinner in the Horizons Dining Room, choosing from a menu not found elsewhere on board (our preview did not include the dinner portion). Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024 To do this, the police department chose Legos, overlaying Lego heads on the heads of suspects in photos shared on its social media. Julia Daye, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2024 The names include worthy, valued, cherished (this room has a massage chair inside), loved and chosen. Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'choose.' 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

Middle English chosen, from Old English cēosan; akin to Old High German kiosan to choose, Latin gustare to taste

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of choose was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near choose

Cite this Entry

“Choose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/choose. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

choose

verb
chose ˈchōz How to pronounce choose (audio) ; chosen ˈchōz-ᵊn How to pronounce choose (audio) ; choosing ˈchü-ziŋ How to pronounce choose (audio)
1
: to select freely and after consideration
choose a leader
2
: to make a choice : decide
chose to go by train
3
: to see fit
take them if you choose
chooser noun

More from Merriam-Webster on choose

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