choose

verb

chose ˈchōz How to pronounce choose (audio) ; chosen ˈchō-zᵊn How to pronounce choose (audio) ; choosing ˈchü-ziŋ How to pronounce choose (audio)

transitive verb

1
a
: to select freely and after consideration
choose a career
b
: to decide on especially by vote : elect
chose her as captain
2
a
: to have a preference for
choose one car over another
b
: decide
chose to go by train

intransitive verb

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 happyJ. A. Froude
chooser noun

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 Charters1987
… 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Or should it be chosen solely for the fact that it was beautifully framed and composed? Time Photo Department, TIME, 30 Dec. 2024 His surprise win to lead the Liberal Democratic Party seemed more about the old guard sidelining upstarts — one in his early 40s, one a woman — than choosing Ishiba, 67, for his governing abilities. William Pesek, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024 All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. Robyn Merrett, StyleCaster, 30 Dec. 2024 The sleek Pochette range also includes a more geometrical, horizontal shape, plus sumptuous textures such as suede and a seriously chic color wheel of options to choose from. Laura Jackson, Vogue, 30 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for choose 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English chosen, from Old English cēosan; akin to Old High German kiosan to choose, Latin gustare to taste

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of choose was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near choose

Cite this Entry

“Choose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/choose. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

choose

verb
chose ˈchōz How to pronounce choose (audio) ; chosen ˈchōz-ᵊn How to pronounce choose (audio) ; choosing ˈchü-ziŋ How to pronounce choose (audio)
1
: to select freely and after consideration
choose a leader
2
: to make a choice : decide
chose to go by train
3
: to see fit
take them if you choose
chooser noun

More from Merriam-Webster on choose

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