# option

/ˈɑpʃən/ (US) · /ˈɒpʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/option
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. a choice

noun · CEFR A2

one of the things you can choose from a group of possibilities.

For teachers: one of a set of available choices or alternatives.

- We have several options for dinner, including Italian and Thai food.
- The committee explored every available option before deciding that a complete restructuring was the only viable path forward.

### 2. the right to choose

noun · CEFR B1

the freedom or right to make a choice.

For teachers: the power, right, or liberty of choosing.

- The contract gives you the option to renew your lease next year.
- Having the option to work from home has significantly improved the team's overall productivity and job satisfaction.

### 3. financial contract

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a legal agreement that lets you buy or sell something at a fixed price later.

For teachers: a financial instrument giving the holder the right, but not the obligation, to trade an asset at a specified strike price.

- He bought stock options as part of his investment plan.
- The investor exercised her call option when the market price rose significantly above the agreed strike price.

### 4. computing setting

noun · CEFR B1

a setting in a computer program that you can change.

For teachers: a user-definable setting or parameter within a software application.

- You can change the language in the settings option of the app.
- The advanced options menu allows users to toggle hardware acceleration and adjust the cache size for better performance.

### 5. to buy a right

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to pay for the right to buy or use something later.

For teachers: to acquire an option on something, especially the rights to a creative work.

- The studio decided to option the book for a future movie.
- A major production company has already optioned the screenplay, though filming is not expected to begin until next year.

Usage: The verb is transitive and usually refers to intellectual property or real estate.

## Examples

- You have the option to pay by cash or credit card.
- The software provides several backup options so users can choose where to save their files.
- After reviewing the legal advice, the board realized that their only viable option was to settle the dispute out of court to avoid further reputational damage.

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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.