option

Everyday

1. One of the things you can choose from. tree →
2. The freedom or right to choose. tree →
3. A school subject you choose to study (UK). tree →
4. (formal, business) A right to buy or sell something later. tree →

In the lessons

In school it appears in multiple-choice questions (option A, B, C or D) and in choosing subjects. In computing, options are settings in a menu. In everyday life it means a choice. In maths, counting options leads to combinations: 3 shirts and 2 pairs of trousers give 6 options. Phrases: have no option but to, the best option, keep your options open, an optional extra.

Examples

• Option C is the right answer. tree →
• We had two options: walk or take the bus. tree →
• I had no option but to wait in the rain. tree →
• The vegetarian option on the menu is pasta. tree →
• Click Options to change the sound. tree →
• She took French as one of her options. tree →
• With 4 flavours and 3 toppings there are 12 options. tree →
• Keep your options open until you have all the facts. tree →

Note

Countable: an option, two options; use «an» because it starts with a vowel sound. Optional (adjective) means you may choose not to do it. In counting problems, multiply the number of options at each step to get all possible combinations.