option

UK: /ˈɒpʃ^ən/ US: /ˈɑpʃən/ ,(op′shən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

op•tion /ˈɑpʃən/   n. 

1. the power or right of choosing:
   [uncountable] to have no option but to stay.
2. something that may be chosen;
   choice:
   [countable] Your options are law school or taking a job.
3. an item of equipment or an extra feature that may be chosen:
   [countable] The car had several options like power windows and a CD player.

v. [~ + object]

4. to take or grant an option on.

op•tion•al, adj. 
op•tion•al•ly, adv. See -opt-.
Synonyms

See choice.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

op•tion  (op′shən), n. 

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. [Football.] a play in which a back has a choice of either passing or running with the ball.

v.t. 

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.

• Latin optiōn- (stem of optiō) choice, equivalent. to op(tāre) to select (see opt) + -tiōn- -tion
• 1595–1605

op′tion•a•ble, adj. 
Synonyms

• 2. See choice. 
• 2, 3. selection, election.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

option / 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. 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. 
   short for local option
7. keep one's options open, leave one's options open ⇒ not to commit oneself
8. See soft option

verb

1. (transitive) to obtain or grant an option on

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin optiō free choice, from optāre to choose