opt for

opt for — phrasal verb

  • opt forbase form
  • opts for3rd person singular
  • opting for-ing form
  • opted forpast simple

1. to decide to take a particular option or course of action when several possibili

1.phrasal verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to decide to take a particular option or course of action when several possibilities are available

Example

Joshua opted for the vegetarian option at his cousin's wedding dinner.

opt for + noun phrase (option/choice)

After comparing prices, the Watanabe family opted for a used car.

Common collocations
  • opt for a plan
  • opt for a course
  • opt for a career
  • opt for a solution
  • opt for a quieter life
Synonyms
  • choose

    more general and more common in everyday speech; 'opt for' often suggests a choice from a defined list of possibilities

  • select

    slightly more formal; often implies a careful or deliberate decision

  • go for

    informal; commonly used in British English, e.g. 'I'll go for the pasta'

Antonyms
  • reject

    to refuse to accept or consider an option

  • rule out

    to decide that something is not possible or suitable

Grammar Patterns

opt for + noun phrase

opt for + -ing form

Usage Note

Always followed by the preposition 'for' — 'opt something' is incorrect. This phrasal verb is common in both British and American English.

Common Mistakes

I opted the cheaper flight.
I opted for the cheaper flight.
'opt' always needs the preposition 'for'; you cannot 'opt' something directly.

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

'Opt' traces back through French 'opter' to Latin 'optāre', meaning 'to desire, to choose'. The preposition 'for' was added to form the phrasal verb 'opt for', which first appeared in English in the 1800s as a way to express making a deliberate selection among alternatives. Today it is a standard collocation in both written and spoken English.