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View synonyms for choose

choose

[ chooz ]

verb (used with object)

, chose; cho·sen or (Obsolete) chose; choos·ing.
  1. to select from a number of possibilities; pick by preference:

    She chose Sunday for her departure.

  2. to prefer or decide (to do something):

    He chose to run for election.

  3. to want; desire:

    I choose moving to the city.

  4. (especially in children's games) to contend with (an opponent) to decide, as by odd or even, who will do something:

    I'll choose you to see who gets to bat first.



verb (used without object)

, chose; cho·sen or (Obsolete) chose; choos·ing.
  1. to make a choice, or select from two or more possibilities:

    Accepted by several colleges, the boy chose carefully.

  2. to be inclined:

    You may stay here, if you choose.

  3. (especially in children's games) to decide, as by means of odd or even, who will do something:

    Let's choose to see who bats first.

verb phrase

    1. to select (players) for a contest or game:

      The kids chose up sides for the game.

    2. to select players for a contest or game:

      We have to choose up before we can play.

choose

/ tʃuːz /

verb

  1. to select (a person, thing, course of action, etc) from a number of alternatives
  2. tr; takes a clause as object or an infinitive to consider it desirable or proper

    I don't choose to read that book

  3. intr to like; please

    you may stand if you choose

  4. cannot choose but
    cannot choose but to be obliged to

    we cannot choose but vote for him

  5. nothing to choose between
    nothing to choose betweenlittle to choose between (of two people or objects) almost equal


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Derived Forms

  • ˈchooser, noun

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Other Words From

  • choosa·ble adjective
  • chooser noun
  • pre·choose verb (used with object) prechose prechosen prechoosing
  • re·choose verb rechose rechosen rechoosing
  • un·choosa·ble adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of choose1

First recorded before 1000; Middle English chosen, chēsen, Old English cēosan; cognate with Gothic kiusan, Old High German kiosan ( German kiesen ); akin to Greek geúesthai “to enjoy,” Latin gustāre “to taste” ( gusto )

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Word History and Origins

Origin of choose1

Old English ceosan; related to Old Norse kjōsa, Old High German kiosan

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. cannot choose but, cannot do otherwise than; is or are obliged to:

    He cannot choose but obey.

More idioms and phrases containing choose

In addition to the idiom beginning with choose , also see beggars can't be choosers ; pick and choose . Also see under choice .

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Synonym Study

Choose, select, pick, elect, prefer indicate a decision that one or more possibilities are to be regarded more highly than others. Choose suggests a decision on one of a number of possibilities because of its apparent superiority: to choose a course of action. Select suggests a choice made for fitness: to select the proper golf club. Pick, an informal word, suggests a selection on personal grounds: to pick a winner. The formal word elect suggests a kind of official action: to elect a representative. Prefer, also formal, emphasizes the desire or liking for one thing more than for another or others: to prefer coffee to tea.

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Example Sentences

Many will think about their pillows in purely functional terms and either not care about or simply choose to ignore any association with Mike Lindell.

The traditional way of advertising includes choosing the right ad content and selecting the right channel or platform to display your ad.

He chose his sites carefully, to avoid reducing availability for the vulnerable.

Bauer said he chose the Dodgers in part because of the way they interpret data, not merely that they use it.

Paired with someone who also values family, whether it’s blood related or chosen family.

House rules require an absolute majority of members voting to choose a speaker.

The reason pilots would choose to use guns over a bomb or a missile is simple.

That gays (and other liberals) should choose Canadian oil because Canada “has no laws prohibiting LGBT lifestyle.”

So why did the God of the Hebrew people choose such a scandalous setting for becoming human?

But, Hamlawa says, she choose to stay on the front lines instead, “I stayed with my other daughters.”

"I will," gruffly replied the man, with a look which showed that he was sorry to be forced to choose the second alternative.

It had been a pleasure to choose the various tasteful specimens of the upholsterer's art.

She would not dare to choose, and begged that Mademoiselle Reisz would please herself in her selections.

Your most intimate friend arrived in Paris, and you choose the next day to make a little tour!

He shall eat butter and honey, that he may know to refuse the evil, and to choose the good.

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tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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choorachoose up