An option is something that you can choose to do in preference to one or more alternatives.
He's argued from the start that America and its allies are putting too much emphasison the military option.
What other options do you have?
2. singular noun [NOUN to-infinitive]
If you have the option of doing something, you can choose whether to do it or not.
Criminals are given the option of going to jail or facing public humiliation. [+ of]
We had no option but to abandon the meeting.
3. countable noun
In business, an option is an agreement or contract that gives someone the right to buy or sell something such as property or shares at a future date.
[business]
Each bank has granted the other an option on 19.9% of its shares.
4. countable noun
An option is one of a number of subjects which a student can choose to study as a part of his or her course.
Several options are offered for the student's senior year.
5.
See to keep your options open
6.
See soft option
More Synonyms of option
option in British English
(ˈɒpʃən)
noun
1.
the act or an instance of choosing or deciding
2.
the power or liberty to choose
3.
an exclusive opportunity, usually for a limited period, to buy something at a future date
he has a six-month option on the Canadian rights to this book
4. business
the right to buy (call option) or sell (put option) a fixed quantity of a commodity, security, foreign exchange, etc, at a fixed price at a specified date in the future
See also traded option
5.
something chosen; choice
6. New Zealand short for local option
7. keep one's options open
8. soft option
verb
9. (transitive)
to obtain or grant an option on
Word origin
C17: from Latin optiō free choice, from optāre to choose
option in American English
(ˈɑpʃən)
noun
1.
the power or right of choosing
2.
something that may be or is chosen; choice
3.
the act of choosing
4.
an item of equipment or a feature that may be chosen as an addition to or replacement for standard equipment and features
a car with a long list of extra-cost options
a telephoto lens option for a camera
5. See stock option
6.
a privilege acquired, as by the payment of a premium or consideration, of demanding, within a specified time, the carrying out of a transaction upon stipulated terms; the right, as granted in a contract or by an initial payment, of acquiring something in the future
We bought one lot and took a 90-day option on an adjoining one
7. American Football
a play in which a back has a choice of either passing or running with the ball
transitive verb
8.
to acquire or grant an option on
The studio has optioned his latest novel for film adaptation
9.
to provide with optional equipment
The car can be fully optioned at additional cost
Derived forms
optionable
adjective
Word origin
[1595–1605; ‹ L optiōn- (s. of optiō) choice, equiv. to op(tāre) to select ( see opt) + -tiōn--tion]
option in Finance
(ɒpʃən)
Word forms: (regular plural) options
noun
(Finance: Investment, Stocks)
An option is an agreement or contract that gives someone the right to buy or sell a propertyor shares at a future date.
Each bank has granted the other an option on 19.9 percent of its shares.
Under the program, he still holds options to buy 42,000 shares at the same low rate.
An option is an agreement or contract that gives someone the right to buy or sell a propertyor shares at a future date.
stock options
option in Accounting
(ɒpʃən)
Word forms: (regular plural) options
noun
(Accounting: Investing)
An option is an agreement or contract that gives someone the right to buy or sell a propertyor shares at a future date.
Each bank has granted the other an option on 19.9 percent of its shares.
Under the program, he still holds options to buy 42,000 shares at the same low rate.
An option is an agreement or contract that gives someone the right to buy or sell a propertyor shares at a future date.
COBUILD Collocations
option
attractive option
career options
cheap option
consider your options
easy option
explore options
healthy option
options available
preferred option
safe option
treatment options
viable option
Examples of 'option' in a sentence
option
Their approach would encourage management to consider other options when they decided board representation unsuitable.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It may be a better option for a student to take out their own policy.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
These cheaper options gave students a gentle nudge through a door they had long wanted to open.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Then bosses might need to consider another one of their options.
The Sun (2016)
He certainly could be an option for the future.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
We now have no option but to take them to court.
The Sun (2016)
But it is no easy option.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Rather than sticking with a single grain, blends are a good option.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A judge at Southampton crown court said jail was an option.
The Sun (2016)
These numbers reflect that some presidents felt comfortable with more than one option.
Christianity Today (2000)
Older drivers also have a limited range of options for cover.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Leaving them behind was not a good option.
The Sun (2013)
We were considering our managerial options at the time.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
There are very few options for small businesses as we rely so much on our overdrafts.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It offers credit options and part exchange.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
One solution is to buy a small shareholding now or have a share option granted.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Why do we always go for the cheap option?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We have an option agreement to sign him at the end of the season.
The Sun (2007)
We must learn to look at all the options and make choices.
Harris, Jean Everything You Need to Know for Success in Business (1990)
There are various packages which can include dining options.
The Sun (2012)
They can also use derivatives such as futures and options to hedge their holdings.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
You could take an option on a fully equipped office.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Students have the option of undertaking a third year at the university to gain an honours degree.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The easy option would be to just blame the patriarchy.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We are keeping all our options open.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
That way you both keep your option open and earn interest on the exercise money.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
This leaves the banks with two options.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Teenage criminals consider youth jails a soft option, and the time spent inside as boosting their status on the outside.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
option
British English: option /ˈɒpʃən/ NOUN
An option is one of two or more things that you can choose between.
We will consider all options before making a decision.
American English: option
Arabic: خِيَارٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: opção
Chinese: 选项
Croatian: opcija
Czech: možnost výběru
Danish: mulighed
Dutch: optie
European Spanish: opción
Finnish: vaihtoehto
French: option
German: Wahl Möglichkeit
Greek: επιλογή
Italian: opzione
Japanese: 選択
Korean: 선택권
Norwegian: valg
Polish: opcja
European Portuguese: opção
Romanian: opțiune
Russian: выбор
Latin American Spanish: opción
Swedish: val
Thai: ตัวเลือก
Turkish: seçenek
Ukrainian: варіант
Vietnamese: sự lựa chọn
Chinese translation of 'option'
option
(ˈɔpʃən)
n(c)
(= choice) 选(選)择(擇) (xuǎnzé) (种(種), zhǒng)
(Scol, Univ) 选(選)修课(課) (xuǎnxiūkè) (门(門), mén)
(Comm) 买(買)卖(賣)权(權) (mǎimàiquán)
to keep one's options open暂(暫)不做决(決)定 (zàn bù zuò juédìng)
to have no other option (but to ... )(除 ... 之外)别(別)无(無)选(選)择(擇) ((chú ... zhī wài) bié wú xuǎnzé)
I'm afraid that's not an option我恐怕那样(樣)行不通 (wǒ kǒngpà nàyàng xíng bù tōng)
(noun)
Definition
the power or liberty to choose
He was jailed for thirty days without the option of a fine.
Synonyms
choice
If I had any choice in the matter, I wouldn't have gone.
alternative
If you don't fancy going on holiday to Malta, we have several alternatives.
selection
Make your selection from the list.
preference
He enjoys all styles of music, but his preference is opera.
freedom of choice
power to choose
election
the election of the Labour government in 1964
Additional synonyms
in the sense of alternative
Definition
either or any of such choices
If you don't fancy going on holiday to Malta, we have several alternatives.
Synonyms
substitute,
choice,
other,
option,
preference,
recourse
in the sense of election
Definition
the gaining of political power or taking up of a position in an organization as a result of being voted for
the election of the Labour government in 1964
Synonyms
appointment,
choosing,
picking,
choice,
selection
in the sense of preference
Definition
a person or thing preferred
He enjoys all styles of music, but his preference is opera.