option

1 of 2

noun

op·​tion ˈäp-shən How to pronounce option (audio)
1
: an act of choosing
hard to make an option between such alternatives
2
a
: the power or right to choose : freedom of choice
He has the option to cancel the deal.
b
: a privilege of demanding fulfillment of a contract on any day within a specified time
c
: 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.
d
: a right of an insured person to choose the form in which payments due on a policy shall be made or applied
3
: something that may be chosen: such as
a
: an alternative course of action
didn't have many options open
b
: 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.
4
: 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

1
: to grant or take an option on
2
: 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

Examples of option in a Sentence

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In 2024, 46 states will offer early, in-person voting, and 36 will offer the option to vote by mail without having to cite a reason. Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024 The other option is to sell electricity back to the grid at a higher price than when it was purchased at off-peak times; this concept is called vehicle-to-grid (V2G). Sabrina Weiss, WIRED, 20 Mar. 2024 Johnson noted that residents in that part of Noblesville, especially near the Hamilton Town Center, would have a much closer option for a large grocery store if the development moves forward. Jake Allen, The Indianapolis Star, 20 Mar. 2024 Age-appropriate cameras are a fun way for young kids to explore the world around them creatively and safely, while photography is a great option for teens and tweens looking to pick up a new hobby. Alesandra Dubin, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024 The game’s main fast travel options are oxtail carts and ferrystones. George Yang, Variety, 20 Mar. 2024 And more and more consumers are having more and more options. Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2024 The cash option is a one-time, lump-sum payment equal to all the cash in the jackpot prize pool. Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2024 And unlike many outpatient options like hair transplants—which require a single next-day follow-up exam—a facelift is on the longer side of the recovery spectrum. Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2024
Verb
Just John will option, develop and produce projects, both independently and in partnership with third parties. K.j. Yossman, Variety, 20 Feb. 2024 If everyone stays healthy, then Krall said the Reds would option starters to Triple-A and move others to the bullpen. Charlie Goldsmith, The Enquirer, 2 Jan. 2024 Read the Full Story Alfa Romeo will offer buyers the opportunity to option their 33 Stradale with either an internal-combustion engine or a battery-electric powertrain. Alfa Romeo, Car and Driver, 30 Aug. 2023 The Royals could option additional players to Omaha after spring training. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2024 Sources tell Variety that there was heated competition to option Isaacson’s book from studios and filmmakers alike, with A24 ultimately winning the bidding war. Ellise Shafer, Variety, 10 Nov. 2023 As Sepinwall reveals, the cameo followed an attempt to bring Ashton Kutcher on the show, with the That ’70s Show star set to portray an actor who wants to option and stars in the comic book’s screen adaptation. Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Nov. 2023 As newsrooms shutter and streaming services thrive, magazine writers increasingly look to the sums TV and movie production companies will pay to option our stories. Sean Williams, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2023 Look for the Allow exceptions option to let important contacts reach you. Fox News, 29 Oct. 2023

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

Dictionary Entries Near option

Cite this Entry

“Option.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/option. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

option

noun
op·​tion
ˈäp-shən
1
: the power or right to choose
2
: a right to buy or sell something at a specified price during a specified period
took an option on the house
3
: 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 How to pronounce option (audio)
1
: the power or right to choose
also : a choice made or available
2
: a privilege of demanding fulfillment of a contract on any day within a specified time
3
: 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
4
: 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

option

2 of 2 transitive verb
: to grant or take an option on
started buying or optioning riverfront landRita Koselka

More from Merriam-Webster on option

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