choose
She had to choose between the two men in her life.
to decide what you want from two or more things or possibilities
Julie chose him as her husband.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
choose
verb (chooses, choosing, chose /, has chosen )
to decide which thing or person you want:
She chose the chocolate cake.
Mike had to choose between getting a job or going to college.
The noun is choice.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
choose
choose S1 W1 /tʃuːz/ BrE AmE verb (past tense chose /tʃəʊz $ tʃoʊz/, past participle chosen /ˈtʃəʊzən $ ˈtʃoʊ-/) [intransitive and transitive]
[Language: Old English; Origin: ceosan]
1. to decide which one of a number of things or people you want ⇨ choice:
It took us ages to choose a new carpet.
A panel of judges will choose the winner.
He chose his words carefully as he spoke.
I don’t mind which one we have – you choose.
choose between
For pudding we could choose between ice cream and apple tart.
choose from
You can choose from a wide range of vehicles.
choose to do something
I chose to learn German rather than French.
choose somebody/something to do something
They chose Donald to be their leader.
choose somebody/something as something
The company chose London as its base.
choose somebody/something for something
Why did you choose me for the job?
2. to decide to do something because that is what you prefer to do
choose to do something
I chose to ignore his advice.
You can, if you choose, invest in the stock market.
3. there is little/nothing to choose between something used when you think that two or more things are equally good and you cannot decide which is better:
There was little to choose between the two candidates.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ choose to decide which one of several things you want: I chose a black dress. | Which dessert should I choose?
▪ pick to choose something, especially without thinking carefully. Pick is more informal than choose: Pick any number from one to ten.
▪ select formal to choose something, especially after thinking carefully: The committee will meet to select a new chairman. | All our instructors are carefully selected.
▪ opt for/go for to choose one thing instead of another: Many car buyers opt for used vehicles. | I think I’ll go for the chocolate cake.
▪ decide on to choose something from many possible things, especially when the decision has been difficult or taken a long time: Thomas had decided on a career as a writer.
▪ single out to choose one person or thing from a group because they are better, worse, more important etc than the others: Why should he be singled out for special treatment? | One student was singled out for special attention.
▪ take your pick especially spoken to choose anything you want, especially when there are many different things available: You can take your pick from Bodrum’s many bars and restaurants.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
choose
choose [choose chooses chose choosing chosen] [tʃuːz] [tʃuːz] verb (chose [tʃəʊz] ; [tʃoʊz] , chosen [ˈtʃəʊzn] ; [ˈtʃoʊzn] )
1. intransitive, transitive to decide which thing or person you want out of the ones that are available
• You choose, I can't decide.
• There are plenty of restaurants to choose from.
• ~ between A and/or B She had to choose between staying in the UK or going home.
• ~ sth Sarah chose her words carefully.
• This site has been chosen for the new school.
• ~ A from B We have to choose a new manager from a shortlist of five candidates.
• ~ sb/sth as/for sth He chose banking as a career.
• We chose Phil McSweeney as/for chairperson.
• ~ whether, wat, etc… You'll have to choose whether to buy it or not.
• ~ to do sth We chose to go by train.
• ~ sb to be/do sth We chose Phil McSweeney to be chairperson.
2. intransitive, transitive to prefer or decide to do sth
• Employees can retire at 60 if they choose.
• ~ to do sth Many people choose not to marry.
see also choice n.
more at pick and choose at pick v.
Idiom: there is not much to choose between A and B
Verb forms:
Word Origin:
Old English cēosan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kiezen.
Thesaurus:
choose verb I, T
1.
• We have to choose a new manager.
select • • decide • • opt • • single sb/sth out • • adopt • |informal pick • • go for sth •
choose/select/decide/pick between A and/or B
choose/select/opt for/single out/adopt/pick/go for sb/sth as sb/sth
choose/select/single out/pick sb/sth for sb/sth
choose/select/opt for/single out/adopt/pick/go for sb/sth to do sth
Choose, select or pick? When you select sth you usually choose it carefully, unless you actually say that it is selected randomly/at random. Pick is a more informal word that describes a less careful action. Choose is the most general of these words and the only one that can be used without an object:
• You choose— I can't decide
¤ You select/pick— I can't decide.
2. I, T
• Many people choose not to marry.
decide • • make up your mind • |formal determine • • elect • • resolve •
choose/decide/make up your mind/determine/elect/resolve to do sth
choose/decide/make up your mind whether/what/how…
be free to choose/decide/determine
Synonyms:
choose
select • pick • decide • opt • go for
These words all mean to decide which thing or person you want out of the ones that are available.
choose • to decide which thing or person you want out of the ones that are available: ▪ You choose— I can't decide.
select • [often passive] to choose sb/sth, usually carefully, from a group of people or things: ▪ He was selected for the team. ◊ ▪ a randomly selected sample of 23 schools
pick • (rather informal) to choose sb/sth from a group of people or things: ▪ She picked the best cake for herself.
choose, select or pick?
Choose is the most general of these words and the only one that can be used without an object. When you select sth, you choose it carefully, unless you actually say that it is selected randomly/at random. Pick is a more informal word and often a less careful action, used especially when the choice being made is not very important.
decide • to choose between two or more possibilities: ▪ We're still trying to ▪ decide on ▪ a venue.
opt • to choose to take or not to take a particular course of action: ▪ After graduating she opted for a career in music. ◊ ▪ After a lot of thought, I ▪ opted against ▪ buying a motorbike.
go for sth • (rather informal) to choose sth: ▪ I think I'll go for the fruit salad.
to choose/select/pick/decide between A and/or B
to choose/select/pick A from B
to opt/go for sb/sth
to choose/decide/opt to do sth
to choose/select/pick sb/sth carefully/at random
randomly chosen/selected/picked
Example Bank:
• She had to choose between giving up her job or hiring a nanny.
• There are several different models to choose from.
• They can choose freely from a wide range of courses.
• You are free to choose whichever courses you want to take.
• You have to take any job you can get— you can't pick and choose.
• We chose Paul Stubbs to be chairperson.
• We deliberately chose to stay in a cheap non-western hotel.
• With practice, you can consciously choose not to react in a stressed way.
• You choose— I can't decide.
• You'll have to choose whether to buy it or not.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
choose / tʃuːz / verb [ I or T ] ( chose , chosen )
A1 to decide what you want from two or more things or possibilities:
She had to choose between the two men in her life.
Danny, come here and choose your ice cream.
He chose a shirt from the many in his wardrobe.
[ + question word ] It's difficult choosing wh ere to live.
[ + two objects ] I've chosen Luis a present/I've chosen a present for Luis.
Yesterday the selectors chose Dales as the team's new captain.
[ + obj + to infinitive ] The firm's directors chose Emma to be the new production manager.
choose to do sth B1 to decide to do something:
Katie chose (= decided) to stay away from work that day.
little/not much to choose between
When there is little to choose between two or more things, they are (all) very similar.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
choose
[tʃu͟ːz]
♦♦
chooses, choosing, chose, chosen
1) VERB If you choose someone or something from several people or things that are available, you decide which person or thing you want to have.
[V n] They will be able to choose their own leaders in democratic elections...
[V n to-inf] This week he has chosen Peter Mandelson to replace Mo Mowlam...
[V from/between n] There are several patchwork cushions to choose from...
[be V-ed as n] Houston was chosen as the site for the convention...
[V-ed] He did well in his chosen profession. [Also V n as n, V]
Syn:
select
2) VERB If you choose to do something, you do it because you want to or because you feel that it is right.
[V to-inf] They knew that discrimination was going on, but chose to ignore it...
You can just take out the interest each year, if you choose.
3) PHRASE: v-link PHR If there is little to choose between people or things or nothing to choose between them, it is difficult to decide which is better or more suitable. [mainly BRIT]
There is very little to choose between the world's top tennis players.
4) PHRASE The chosen few are a small group who are treated better than other people. You sometimes use this expression when you think this is unfair.
Learning should no longer be an elitist pastime for the chosen few.
Syn:
elite
5) to pick and choose → see pick
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
choose
choose /ˈʧuːz/ verb choos·es; chose /ˈʧoʊz/; cho·sen /ˈʧoʊzn̩/; choos·ing
1 : to decide that a particular person or thing is the one that you want
[+ obj]
• The political party chose a leader.
• They chose her as the team captain.
• We've chosen a different time to go.
• He was chosen because he's qualified for the job.
• She was chosen from a long list of people.
• He chose his words carefully.
• Which shirt would you choose?
[no obj]
• How do I choose when there's so much available?
• Let everyone choose for themselves.
• You can choose from among a number of alternatives.
• You'll have to choose between the two of them.
• There are several books available to choose from.
2 : to make a choice about what to do : decide
[+ obj]
- usually followed by to + verb
• They chose to go by train.
• They chose not to believe it.
• They chose to keep quiet.
• She chooses to work in the city.
[no obj]
• You can do as you choose. [=you can do what you want to do]
choose sides : to divide a group into two teams that will play against each other
• When we chose sides in gym class, I was always the last person to be picked to be on a team.
- often used figuratively
• They are forcing us to choose sides in the dispute.
pick and choose
- see 1pick
- choos·er noun, pl -ers [count]
• a careful chooser
- see also beggars can't be choosers at beggar
