choose

UK: /ˈtʃuːz/ US: /tʃuz/ ,(cho̅o̅z)

Inflections of 'choose' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

chooses

v 3rd person singular

choosing

v pres p

chose

v past

chosen

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

choose /tʃuz/   v., chose/tʃoʊz/  cho•sen/ˈtʃoʊzən/  choos•ing. 
v. 

1. to select from a number of possibilities;
   pick by preference: [~ + object]
   She chose July for her wedding.
   [no object]
   Choose carefully.
2. to prefer or decide (to do something):
   [~ + to + verb] to choose to speak.
3. choose up,
   • [~ + up + object] to select the team members of:
     chose up sides before the game.
   • [no object] to pick players for opposing teams.

Related Words

choose is a verb, choice is a noun and an adjective, choosy is an adjective:
He chose Susan as a dance partner. His choice was Susan. That was a choice piece of meat. He is a choosy shopper.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

choose  (cho̅o̅z), v., chose;
cho•sen or (Obs.) chose;
choos•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to select from a number of possibilities;
   pick by preference:
   She chose Sunday for her departure.
2. to prefer or decide (to do something):
   He chose to run for election.
3. to want;
   desire.
4. (esp. in children's games) to contend with (an opponent) to decide, as by odd or even, who will do something:
   I'll choose you to see who gets to bat first.

v.i. 

5. to make a choice:
   He chose carefully.
6. to be inclined:
   You may stay here, if you choose.
7. (esp. in children's games) to decide, as by means of odd or even, who will do something:
   Let's choose to see who bats first.
8. Idioms cannot choose but, cannot do otherwise than;
   is or are obliged to:
   He cannot choose but obey.
9. choose up:
   • to select (players) for a contest or game:
     The boys chose up sides for the game.
   • to select players for a contest or game:
     We have to choose up before we can play.

• bef. 1000; Middle English chosen, chēsen, Old English cēosan; cognate with Gothic kiusan, Old High German kiosan (German kiesen); akin to Greek geúesthai to enjoy, Latin gustāre to taste (see gusto)

choos′a•ble, adj. 
choos′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. Choose, select, pick, elect, prefer indicate a decision that one or more possibilities are to be regarded more highly than others.
  Choose suggests a decision on one of a number of possibilities because of its apparent superiority:
  to choose a course of action.
  Select suggests a choice made for fitness:
  to select the proper golf club.
  Pick, an informal word, suggests a selection on personal grounds:
  to pick a winner.
  The formal word elect suggests a kind of official action:
  to elect a representative.
  Prefer, also formal, emphasizes the desire or liking for one thing more than for another or others:
  to prefer coffee to tea.

Antonyms

• 1. reject.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

choose / tʃuːz/ verb (chooses, choosing, chose, chosen)

1. to select (a person, thing, course of action, etc) from a number of alternatives
2. (tr; takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to consider it desirable or proper: I don't choose to keep such company
3. (intransitive) to like; please: you may stand if you choose
4. cannot choose but ⇒ to be obliged to: we cannot choose but vote for him
5. nothing to choose between, little to choose between ⇒ (of two people or objects) almost equal

Etymology: Old English ceosan; related to Old Norse kjōsa, Old High German kiosan

ˈchooser noun