1
: an act of choosing
hard to make an option between such alternatives
2
a
: the power or right to choose : freedom of choice
He has the option to cancel the deal.
b
: a privilege of demanding fulfillment of a contract on any day within a specified time
c
: a contract conveying a right to buy or sell designated securities, commodities, or property interest at a specified price during a stipulated period
also
: the right conveyed by an option
The ad is for a condo to rent with an option to buy.
d
: a right of an insured person to choose the form in which payments due on a policy shall be made or applied
3
: something that may be chosen: such as
a
: an alternative course of action
didn't have many options open
b
: an item that is offered in addition to or in place of standard equipment
A sunroof is one of the options that you can get with the car.
4
: an offensive football play in which a back (see back entry 1 sense 3) may choose whether to pass or run with the ball
called also option play
optioned; optioning; options
1
: to grant or take an option on
2
: to acquire the exclusive right to use (an author's work) as the basis for a movie
the studio optioned the novel for a film
Examples of option in a Sentence
Noun
You have the option of staying home or coming with us.
He has the option to cancel the deal.
We have a wide range of options available to us.
Menu options at the café include soups, salads, and sandwiches.
Select an option from the drop-down menu.
Filing taxes online is an option for people with Internet access.
I had no option but to start over.
A good option is to do the work yourself.
Employees will each be granted options to buy 1,000 shares of company stock.
The option must be exercised within five years.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
Choose from the gray, blue, brown, and white options for a discount, or opt for the all-black bath mat for just $23.
—Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2025
If things don’t turn around, for me, probably option 3.
—Mike Kaye
october 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for option
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
This Panasonic point-and-shoot digital camera is an easy-to-use starter option for anyone looking to up their picture game and not have to worry about draining their phone battery throughout the day or having to empty their storage space to take more vacation photos.
—Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
Choose from the gray, blue, brown, and white options for a discount, or opt for the all-black bath mat for just $23.
—Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
Buyers can option in a loft bedroom to increase sleeping capacity if preferred, and can also influence the choice of materials at extra cost.
—New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2025
If things don’t turn around, for me, probably option 3.
—Mike Kaye
october 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for option
Cite this Entry
“Option.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/option. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
option
1 of 2 noun
op·tion
ˈäp-shən 
1
: the power or right to choose
also
: a choice made or available
2
: a privilege of demanding fulfillment of a contract on any day within a specified time
3
: a contract conveying in exchange for the payment of a premium a right to buy or sell designated securities, commodities, or interests in property at a specified price during a stipulated period
also
: the right conveyed by such a contract
decided to exercise his option
—
call option
: an option to buy at a fixed price at or within a certain time compare put option in this entry
—
covered option
: an option in which the optionor owns the security or commodity to be conveyed under the option compare naked option in this entry
—
futures option
: an option on futures
—
incentive stock option
\
in-ˈsen-tiv-
\
: a stock option granted by a corporation to its officers and employees as supplementary compensation that is subject to special tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code
—
index option
: an option on a stock index
—
naked option
: an option in which the optionor does not own the security or commodity and will have to purchase it at market price if the optionee decides to exercise the option compare covered option in this entry
—
put option
: an option to sell for a fixed price at or within a specified time
—
stock option
: an option giving the optionee the right to purchase a specified number of shares of stock from a corporation at a specified price at or within a specified time see also incentive stock option in this entry
4
: a right of an insured to choose the form in which various payments due him or her on a policy shall be made or applied
—
dividend option
: an option allowing the owner of a participating insurance policy and especially a life insurance policy to determine how dividends are to be paid (as in cash or by being applied as payment for additional insurance)
—
installments-for-a-fixed-amount option
: a settlement option in which the insurer retains the policy proceeds and makes periodic payments of a fixed amount until the proceeds are exhausted
called also fixed amount option
—
installments-for-a-fixed-period option
: a settlement option in which the policy proceeds are retained by the insurer and paid in installments over a fixed period of time
called also fixed period option
—
interest-only option
: a settlement option in which the insurer retains the policy proceeds and makes interest payments at a guaranteed minimum rate
—
joint-and-last-survivorship option
: an option in which the insurer makes periodic payments to two or more persons (as a husband and wife) of the proceeds or usually cash value of a policy until the death of the last survivor
—
life income option
: a settlement option in which the insurer retains the policy proceeds and makes periodic payments for the beneficiary's life or for a specified number of years even after the beneficiary's death with payments to a different recipient
—
nonforfeiture option
\
ˌnän-ˈfȯr-fə-ˌchu̇r-
\
: an option (as to surrender the policy for its cash value or convert the policy to one with a smaller face amount or to a term policy with a shorter period) available to a policyholder who has ceased paying premiums
—
settlement option
: an option to receive payments of the proceeds of a life insurance policy other than by lump sum
option
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to grant or take an option on
started buying or optioning riverfront land—Rita Koselka
Rita KoselkaLove words? Need even more definitions?
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