option
7 synonyms and 0 antonyms for option, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — One of the choices available to someone in a given situation.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use option
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From French option, from Latin optio, "choice," from optare, "to choose."
Full origin of option →Frequently asked questions
What does “option” mean?
The word “option” means one of the choices available to someone in a given situation. In plain terms, a choice available to you — or, in finance, a contract that lets you choose to buy/sell later at a set price.
How do you pronounce “option”?
“Option” is pronounced OP-shuhn (/ˈɑpʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “option” in a sentence?
Here is “option” used in a sentence: “We're still weighing our options before signing the lease.”
What is another word for “option”?
Words with a similar meaning to “option” include alternative, choice, possibility and contingency.
What part of speech is “option”?
“Option” is a noun.
Where does the word “option” come from?
The word “option” comes from Latin. From French option, from Latin optio, "choice," from optare, "to choose.".
Is “option” a common word?
“Option” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “option” have?
“Option” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: one of the choices available to someone in a given situation.
What is the difference between an option and a choice?
An option is one of the possibilities available to you, while a choice is the act of selecting one, or the option you actually pick. You weigh up your options, then make a choice. Put simply, options are what you can choose from; a choice is the decision itself.
What is the difference between an option and an alternative?
An option is any available possibility. An alternative is specifically a different option offered in place of another, often as a substitute or backup. Every alternative is an option, but not every option is framed as an alternative. Alternative implies contrast with something already proposed or preferred.
What is an example of an option?
On a menu, each dish is an option; on a form, each box you can tick is an option. When deciding how to travel, driving, taking the train, and flying are all options. In each case, an option is simply one of the paths open to you in that situation.
What is the opposite of having options?
The opposite is having no choice, or being forced into a single course of action. Words like necessity, obligation, or constraint capture this. Where options mean freedom to select among possibilities, their absence means the outcome is fixed and you cannot pick differently, however you might prefer to.