as in voluntary
subject to one's freedom of choice at the resort all recreational activities are optional, and you may choose to participate in none of them

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of optional Standard connectivity features include Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, with optional upgrades like dual-SIM 4G LTE or 5G mobile broadband. PC Magazine, 28 May 2025 Discussion boards and optional office hours are offered to provide additional support as students move through the course. Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 28 May 2025 Given that water isn’t exactly optional for living, a potentially durable engineering solution like this is worth running to ground. Tom Philp, Mercury News, 23 May 2025 As mentioned, the Bellbird comes with a lot of optional upgrades and there are too many to list in full. Adam Williams may 17, New Atlas, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for optional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for optional
Adjective
  • These are also voluntary workouts, so no need to sound an alarm just yet.
    Daniel Popper, New York Times, 28 May 2025
  • The drills are still meant to be non-contact during the voluntary sessions.
    Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025
Adjective
  • Kettering Health, which employs more than 1,800 doctors, said the cyberattack had disrupted its call center and caused the cancellation of elective inpatient and outpatient procedures.
    Jade Walker, CNN Money, 21 May 2025
  • Per the outlets, Ryan had taken some time off in August in order to have the elective eye procedure and expected to be back in uniform a few days later.
    Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • Certainly, this could just be a mini-downturn that could be weathered with a combination of discretionary spending reductions, contingency funds and rainy day funds.
    The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 23 May 2025
  • Target Target slashed its annual sales forecast on May 21, after reporting a sharp decline in quarterly sales, attributing the declines to weakened consumer confidence and a pullback in discretionary spending due to Trump's tariff war.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 22 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Optional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optional. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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