choose S1 W1 /tʃuːz/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense chose /tʃəʊz $ tʃoʊz/, past participle chosen /ˈtʃəʊz ə n $ ˈtʃoʊ-/) [intransitive and transitive]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: ceosan ]
1 . to decide which one of a number of things or people you want ⇨ choice :
It took us ages to choose a new carpet.
A panel of judges will choose the winner.
He chose his words carefully as he spoke.
I don’t mind which one we have – you choose.
choose between
For pudding we could choose between ice cream and apple tart.
choose from
You can choose from a wide range of vehicles.
choose to do something
I chose to learn German rather than French.
choose somebody/something to do something
They chose Donald to be their leader.
choose somebody/something as something
The company chose London as its base.
choose somebody/something for something
Why did you choose me for the job?
2 . to decide to do something because that is what you prefer to do
choose to do something
I chose to ignore his advice.
You can, if you choose, invest in the stock market.
3 . there is little/nothing to choose between something used when you think that two or more things are equally good and you cannot decide which is better:
There was little to choose between the two candidates.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ choose to decide which one of several things you want:
I chose a black dress.
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Which dessert should I choose?
▪ pick to choose something, especially without thinking carefully. Pick is more informal than choose :
Pick any number from one to ten.
▪ select formal to choose something, especially after thinking carefully:
The committee will meet to select a new chairman.
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All our instructors are carefully selected.
▪ opt for/go for to choose one thing instead of another:
Many car buyers opt for used vehicles.
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I think I’ll go for the chocolate cake.
▪ decide on to choose something from many possible things, especially when the decision has been difficult or taken a long time:
Thomas had decided on a career as a writer.
▪ single out to choose one person or thing from a group because they are better, worse, more important etc than the others:
Why should he be singled out for special treatment?
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One student was singled out for special attention.
▪ take your pick especially spoken to choose anything you want, especially when there are many different things available:
You can take your pick from Bodrum’s many bars and restaurants.