choose
chooz
Choose (verb) means to pick one option from among two or more possibilities. Example: “Please choose a colour for the new kitchen walls.”
verb
1
To pick one option from among two or more possibilities.
"Please choose a colour for the new kitchen walls."
"She had to choose between the red dress and the blue one."
"You can't please everyone, so choose what feels right for you."
2
To decide or prefer to act in a particular way.
"Many people choose to walk to work instead of driving."
"He chose to stay quiet rather than argue."
"You can choose to ignore the advice, but it may cost you later."
How to use choose
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo pick or decide between options.
Common mistake
Past tense is "chose," past participle is "chosen" — not "choosed."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
choose between
choose wisely
choose to
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Word forms
- Plural
- chooses
- Third person singular
- chooses
- Past tense
- chose, choosed, chosen
- Archaic forms
- choosest, chosest, choosedst, chooseth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Please _____ a colour for the new kitchen walls.
Etymology
From Old English ċēosan ("to choose, select, test"), from a very old Indo-European root meaning "to taste or try."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for choose
See all rhymes for choose →Frequently asked questions
What does “choose” mean?
The word “choose” means to pick one option from among two or more possibilities. In plain terms, to pick or decide between options.
How do you pronounce “choose”?
“Choose” is pronounced chooz (/t͡ʃuz/ in IPA).
How do you use “choose” in a sentence?
Here is “choose” used in a sentence: “She had to choose between the red dress and the blue one.”
What is another word for “choose”?
Words with a similar meaning to “choose” include accept, adopt, appoint, cast, crave and decide.
What is the opposite of “choose”?
The opposite of “choose” — its antonyms — are compel, constrain, forbid, deny and refuse.
What part of speech is “choose”?
“Choose” is a verb.
Where does the word “choose” come from?
The word “choose” comes from Old English. From Old English ċēosan ("to choose, select, test"), from a very old Indo-European root meaning "to taste or try.".
Is “choose” a common word?
“Choose” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between choose and chose?
"Choose" is the present tense, the act of picking now, while "chose" is its past tense. You say "I choose today" but "I chose yesterday." They are pronounced differently too: "choose" rhymes with "news," and "chose" rhymes with "nose." The spelling difference marks the change in time.
What is the difference between choose and select?
The two are very close. "Choose" is the everyday word for picking one option, often guided by preference or judgment. "Select" sounds slightly more formal and deliberate, suggesting careful picking from a set. You choose a holiday destination; a committee selects a winner. The meaning overlaps almost entirely.
What is the past tense of choose?
The past tense of "choose" is "chose," and the past participle is "chosen." So you might say "I choose now, I chose earlier, and I have chosen already." It is an irregular verb, which is why the forms change rather than simply adding "-ed."
What is an example of choose?
"You can choose between tea and coffee" shows the basic sense of picking one option from a set. Other examples include "she chose the red dress" or "voters choose their representatives." In each, a decision is made to take one possibility over the others available.
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