choose
v. · conj.-
1 to select (v.) A1 Beginnerto pick one person or thing from a group because you like it best.
to select one or more items from a set of available alternatives.
ExampleIt was hard to choose a dessert because they all looked delicious.
ExampleConsumers often find it difficult to choose between competing brands when the price points and features are nearly identical.
UsageOften used with 'between' for two options or 'from' for a larger group.
PitfallI have chose the red one.I have chosen the red one.The past participle is 'chosen'. 'Chose' is the simple past tense.
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2 to decide (v.) B1 Intermediateto decide to do something after thinking about it.
to determine a course of action through an act of will.
ExampleShe chose to stay home and rest instead of going to the party.
ExampleThe board chose to ignore the consultant's warnings, a decision that ultimately led to a significant loss in market share.
UsageUsually followed by a 'to' infinitive.
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3 to elect (v.) B2 Upper Intermediateto pick someone for a job or position by voting.
to select a person for a position, office, or membership, often through a formal vote.
ExampleThe club members will choose a new president at the meeting next week.
ExampleThe citizens were tasked to choose a representative who could balance local interests with national economic priorities.
UsageOften used in the passive voice in political contexts.
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4 math combinations (conj.) C1 Advanced Technical Matha word used in math to talk about how many ways you can pick a small group from a big group.
used between two integers to express the binomial coefficient, representing the number of ways to choose a subset.
ExampleIn the probability problem, we had to calculate five choose two.
ExampleThe formula requires you to determine 'n choose k' to find the total number of possible combinations in the sample set.
UsagePlaced between two numbers, as in 'n choose k'.
Teacher's tipThis is highly specialized; most learners will only encounter it in university-level statistics or combinatorics.
From Middle English cheosen, chesen, from Old English ċēosan (“to choose, seek out, select, elect, decide, test, accept, settle for, approve”), from Proto-West Germanic keusan, from Proto-Germanic keusaną (“to taste, choose”), from Proto-Indo-European ǵéwseti, from ǵews- (“to taste, try”). Cognate with Scots chuise, cheese (“to choose”), North Frisian kese (“to choose”), Saterland Frisian kjoze (“to choose”), West Frisian kieze (“to choose”), Dutch kiezen (“to choose”), French choisir (“to choose”), Low German kesen (“to choose”), German Low German kiesen (“to pick, select”), archaic and partially obsolete German kiesen (“to choose”), Danish kyse (“to frighten (via ‘to charm, allure’ and ‘to enchant’)”), Norwegian kjose (“to choose”), Swedish tjusa (“to charm, allure, enchant”), Icelandic kjósa (“to choose, vote, elect”), Gothic 𐌺𐌹𐌿𐍃𐌰𐌽 (kiusan, “to test”), Latin gustō (“to taste, sample”), Ancient Greek γεύω (geúō, “to feed”), Sanskrit जोषति (jóṣati, “to like, enjoy”), Russian кушать (kúšatʹ, “to have a meal, to eat”).
From Middle English chose, chos, chooce, a Northern dialectal form of Middle English chois (“choice”). Cognate with Scots chose, choose, chuse (“choosing, choice, selection”). Doublet of choice, which see for more.
- 01
choose one's fighter
To select something as one's preferred choice from a set of related things, people etc.
- 02
choose up
To form (sides or teams), usually for a game, by having two individual players choose their teammates.
- 03
choose violence
To disrespect or insult someone in a particularly audacious and unexpected manner.