Word
opt
US/ˈɑpt/
UK/ˈɒpt/
Definition
v. to choose one thing instead of another.
v. to make a choice or selection from among several available alternatives.
Examples
“Many students opt to study from home.”
“After reviewing the high cost of city living, the couple decided to opt for a smaller apartment in the suburbs.”
“Faced with a volatile market, many investors opt for stable government bonds rather than riskier equity portfolios to protect their capital.”
Examples
simple
“Many students opt to study from home.”
contextual
“After reviewing the high cost of city living, the couple decided to opt for a smaller apartment in the suburbs.”
complex
“Faced with a volatile market, many investors opt for stable government bonds rather than riskier equity portfolios to protect their capital.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “opt” in context.
Verb
01. opt for a compromise
“Rather than continuing the legal battle, both parties opted for a compromise.”
verb + prep + noun
02. opt out of the scheme
“Employees have the right to opt out of the pension scheme if they prefer a private plan.”
verb + adv + prep + noun
03. opt to retire
“After thirty years of service, she opted to retire early to travel the world.”
verb + infinitive
Adverb
04. increasingly opt to work
“Young professionals increasingly opt to work remotely to achieve a better work-life balance.”
adv + verb + infinitive
05. instead opt for a career
“He turned down the scholarship and instead opted for a career in the military.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
06. ultimately opt for the former
“Faced with two difficult choices, the committee ultimately opted for the former.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
Usage
Usually followed by the preposition 'for' when choosing a noun, or 'to' when choosing an action.
Teaching tip
Learners often confuse this with 'choose'; explain that 'opt' often implies a more formal or deliberate decision between specific alternatives.
Real-World Examples
“Former British sprinter Adam Gemili tells Newsbeat that "feeling good" about yourself can give you that necessary extra lift when competing, and says men often opt for a "good trim".” “Users can opt out of that, Twitch said on Wednesday , external , but the announcement sparked a backlash with some users questioning why it was allowed in the first place.” “Saving extra in a private pension may limit current life options, but opting out can leave many with riskier retirement savings, or indeed none at all.” “You may find some costs are included in your existing price plan or that you can opt for a data package that gives reduced charges for accessing the internet.” Etymology
First attested in 1853; borrowed from French opter, from Latin optō (“to choose; to select”). Doublet of optate.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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