1
2
a
: to have a preference for
choose one car over another
b
: decide
chose to go by train
1
: to make a selection
finding it hard to choose
2
: to take an alternative
—used after cannot and usually followed by but
when earth is so kind, men cannot choose but be happy—
J. A. Froude
J. A. FroudeSynonyms
Examples of choose in a Sentence
Each year thousands of college students choose volunteer-service trips over beach bumming during their spring breaks and summer vacations.
—Edward M. Kennedy, Time, 22 Sept. 2008
I had been invited to choose certain things that I might want from the house, but although there were indeed a couple of things that I would have liked, I was withheld from making the trip …
—Alice Adams, "Why I Write,"
in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987
… as an instructor at New York University he chose to live by himself in lodgings that for the time must have been very expensive …
—William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982
Any summary I might try to write for the rest of the novel would be worthless and I don't choose to waste my time at it.
—Flannery O'Connor, The Habit of Being, 1979
The political party chose a leader.
They chose her as the team captain.
We've chosen a different time to go.
He was chosen because he's qualified for the job.
She was chosen from a long list of people.
He chose his words carefully.
Which shirt would you choose?
How do I choose when there's so much available?
Let everyone choose for themselves.
You can choose from among a number of alternatives.
Edward M. Kennedy, Time, 22 Sept. 2008
I had been invited to choose certain things that I might want from the house, but although there were indeed a couple of things that I would have liked, I was withheld from making the trip …
—Alice Adams, "Why I Write,"
in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987
… as an instructor at New York University he chose to live by himself in lodgings that for the time must have been very expensive …
—William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982
Any summary I might try to write for the rest of the novel would be worthless and I don't choose to waste my time at it.
—Flannery O'Connor, The Habit of Being, 1979
The political party chose a leader.
They chose her as the team captain.
We've chosen a different time to go.
He was chosen because he's qualified for the job.
She was chosen from a long list of people.
He chose his words carefully.
Which shirt would you choose?
How do I choose when there's so much available?
Let everyone choose for themselves.
You can choose from among a number of alternatives.
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump chose Kushner to be his ambassador to France in the second term.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024
While the majority of drinkers, 11 percent, prefer to wait until between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., others choose to start much earlier.
—Alyce Collins, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
Unlike yourself, many choose to save up their PTO time all year and use it during the holidays to celebrate the fruits of their labor.
—Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
Instead, opt for more easily digestible gluten sources: choose breads made with einkorn, an ancient wheat, and preferably natural sourdough.
—Marie Bladt, Vogue, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for choose 
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Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024
While the majority of drinkers, 11 percent, prefer to wait until between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., others choose to start much earlier.
—Alyce Collins, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
Unlike yourself, many choose to save up their PTO time all year and use it during the holidays to celebrate the fruits of their labor.
—Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Dec. 2024
Instead, opt for more easily digestible gluten sources: choose breads made with einkorn, an ancient wheat, and preferably natural sourdough.
—Marie Bladt, Vogue, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for choose
Dictionary Entries Near choose
Cite this Entry
“Choose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/choose. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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