DictionaryAI

choose

CHOOZ/t͡ʃuːz/

Formschooses, choosing, chose, chosen

6 meanings of choose

Practice

  1. 1
    pick oneverbtransitive or intransitive
    To pick someone or something from two or more possibilities, including someone for an office or position.

    It took her twenty minutes to choose a flavor at the ice cream shop.

    He chose a quieter neighborhood when he moved last year.

    Usagechoose between two things, choose from a list. Past chose, past participle chosen (not incorrect: choosed).

    Similarpick, select

    Oppositereject

    Note

    The spelling wandered too: David Hume writes chuse in 1739.

    Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

  2. 2
    decide to actverbtransitive
    To make a deliberate decision to act or behave in a particular way.

    Many people choose to live simply and own less.

    He chose to remain silent during the meeting.

    UsageFollowed by to + verb: choose to stay, chose not to answer.

    Similardecide, opt, elect, prefer

    Note

    The infinitive puts the weight on deliberateness. Saying someone chose to walk presents walking as one option they took over others.

  3. 3
    as you likeverbtransitive or intransitive
    To prefer, wish, or desire one thing over another.

    Guests may eat indoors or outdoors, as they choose.

    Now that she's retired, she reads, gardens, and travels whenever she chooses.

    UsageMostly in set phrases: as you choose, if you choose, whenever you choose.

    Similarprefer, wish, like, please, want

    Note

    A politer, older shade of wanting. When Goldsmith's landlady in The Vicar of Wakefield (1766) asks whether her guests "did not chuse a more genteel apartment," she means would they like one.

    Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    conjunction
    Used between two whole numbers n and k to express the binomial coefficient, the number of ways to select k items from n.
  2. 5
    nounobsoleteNorthern EnglandScotland
    The act of choosing one option from others; a selection made.
  3. 6
    nounobsoleteNorthern EnglandScotland
    The power, right, or privilege of choosing, including the right to elect.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of choose apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Middle English cheosen, from Old English ċēosan ("to choose, select, decide"), from Proto-Germanic *keusaną ("to taste, choose"), from a Proto-Indo-European root *ǵews- meaning "to taste, try." It is related to Dutch kiezen, French choisir, and Latin gustō ("I taste").

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 8 facts