/ ˈɒpʃn; NAmE ˈɑːp-/ noun
1.
[ C , U ] option (of doing sth) | option (to do sth) 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.
Going to college was not an option for me.
I had no option but to (= I had to) ask him to leave.
Students have the option of studying abroad in their second year.
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 sth but which you will have to pay extra for)
2.
[ C ] 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.
3.
[ C ] option (on sth) | option (to do sth) the right to buy or sell sth at some time in the future :
We have an option on the house.
The property is for rent with an option to buy at any time.
He has promised me first option on his car (= the opportunity to buy it before anyone else) .
share options (= the right to buy shares in a company)
4.
[ C ] ( computing ) one of the choices you can make when using a computer program :
Choose the 'Cut' option from the Edit menu.
•
IDIOMS
- keep / leave your options open
- the soft / easy option
••
SYNONYMS
option
choice ♦ alternative ♦ possibility
These are all words for sth 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.
NOTE
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.
NOTE
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 AND COLLOCATIONS :
with / without the option / choice / possibility of sth
a(n) good / acceptable / reasonable / possible option / choice / alternative
the only option / choice / alternative / possibility open to sb
your best option / alternative (is to...)
to have a / an / the option / choice of doing sth
to have no option / choice / alternative but to do sth)
a number / range of options / choices / alternatives / possibilities
not much option / choice
••
WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from French , or from Latin optio(n-) , from the stem of optare choose.