# choose

/ˈtʃuz/ (US) · /tʃˈuːz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/choose
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to select

verb · CEFR A1

to pick one person or thing from a group because you like it best.

For teachers: to select one or more items from a set of available alternatives.

- It was hard to choose a dessert because they all looked delicious.
- Consumers often find it difficult to choose between competing brands when the price points and features are nearly identical.

Usage: Often used with 'between' for two options or 'from' for a larger group.

### 2. to decide

verb · CEFR B1

to decide to do something after thinking about it.

For teachers: to determine a course of action through an act of will.

- She chose to stay home and rest instead of going to the party.
- The board chose to ignore the consultant's warnings, a decision that ultimately led to a significant loss in market share.

Usage: Usually followed by a 'to' infinitive.

### 3. to elect

verb · CEFR B2

to pick someone for a job or position by voting.

For teachers: to select a person for a position, office, or membership, often through a formal vote.

- The club members will choose a new president at the meeting next week.
- The citizens were tasked to choose a representative who could balance local interests with national economic priorities.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice in political contexts.

### 4. math combinations

conjunction · CEFR C1 · Technical

a word used in math to talk about how many ways you can pick a small group from a big group.

For teachers: used between two integers to express the binomial coefficient, representing the number of ways to choose a subset.

- In the probability problem, we had to calculate five choose two.
- The formula requires you to determine 'n choose k' to find the total number of possible combinations in the sample set.

Usage: Placed between two numbers, as in 'n choose k'.

Teaching tip: This is highly specialized; most learners will only encounter it in university-level statistics or combinatorics.

## Examples

- You can choose any color you like for your new room.
- The committee had to choose between three qualified candidates for the manager position.
- When consumers choose products based on ethical considerations rather than price alone, they exert a significant influence on corporate environmental policies.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.