options
options — noun
- optionssingular
- optionsesplural
1. the different things you are able to pick from, or the chance to decide for your
the different things you are able to pick from, or the chance to decide for yourself what you want to do
Sivan studied all her job options before signing the contract in Tel Aviv.
plural: weighing several available choices
The menu gave diners three vegetarian options and one fish dish.
countable: a set of named choices
Daichi kept his options open until the last day to apply.
Patients should always have the option of a second opinion from another doctor.
Trang had the option to leave early, but she stayed to help.
- choice
more general; can be the act of choosing as well as the thing chosen
- alternative
stresses a second possibility instead of the first
- possibility
wider; something that could happen, not always something you select
文法句型
option of doing something
option to do something
用法筆記
Often plural ('options') when listing the range of choices on offer; singular 'option' for one specific choice. Frequently follows 'have', 'give', or 'keep'.
常見錯誤
2. a deal that lets you buy or sell something at a fixed price by a set date, which
a deal that lets you buy or sell something at a fixed price by a set date, which you pay for but do not have to use
Meera bought options on the airline shares before the prices climbed.
finance: options on shares
The contract gave Rafael an option to buy the warehouse within a year.
option to buy within a time limit
Many traders lost money when their options expired worthless last week.
Kofi paid a small fee for the option but chose not to use it.
文法句型
option on something
option to buy something
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this is a paid financial right, not a simple choice. Often plural in trading talk ('stock options', 'share options').
3. used in the phrase 'have no option' to say that you are forced into one course o
used in the phrase 'have no option' to say that you are forced into one course of action because nothing else is possible
With the bridge closed, Élise had no option but to take the long road home.
have no option but to + verb
The flooded train line left commuters with no option but to walk.
leave someone with no option but to
Selim felt he had little option but to apologise to his angry neighbour.
After the funding was cut, the small clinic had no option but to close.
- alternative
'no alternative but to' is the close equivalent phrase
- choice
'no choice but to' works the same way and is more everyday
文法句型
have no option but to do something
用法筆記
Only sense that appears in the fixed frame 'have no/little option but to'. The forced action follows as a 'but to'-infinitive.
常見錯誤
options — verb
- optionspresent simple I / you / we / they
- optionses3rd person singular
- optionsing-ing form
- optionsedpast simple
1. to pay for the right to buy or sell something later, or to give someone that rig
to pay for the right to buy or sell something later, or to give someone that right
The developer optioned the empty lot before anyone else could bid.
transitive: option + property
Christopher optioned the land for a year while he raised the money.
option something for a period
The farmer optioned ten acres to a builder for a small fee.
The firm optioned the patent so rivals could not buy it first.
文法句型
option something
用法筆記
Object is usually property, land, or a right being secured. Distinguish from verb sense 2, which is specific to creative works.
2. to pay a writer for the sole right to turn their book or story into a film or sh
to pay a writer for the sole right to turn their book or story into a film or show
A Hollywood studio optioned Hugo's first novel before it even reached bookshops.
studio optioned a book
The producer optioned the short story and hired a writer to adapt it.
option then adapt for screen
Apinya was thrilled when a streaming service optioned her stage play.
The memoir was optioned for a series but the show was never made.
文法句型
option something for a film
用法筆記
Object is a creative work (novel, story, play). Frequently passive: 'the book was optioned'. An option here can lapse without a film ever being made.
options — adjective
- optionspositive
- more optionscomparative
- most optionssuperlative
1. describing a move in American football where the ball carrier picks, in the mome
describing a move in American football where the ball carrier picks, in the moment, between running forward and passing the ball
The coach drew up a clever option play for the final minute of the game.
attributive: option play
Their option offense let the quarterback choose to run or pass each time.
option offense in American football
The young quarterback ran the option attack better than anyone in the league.
Henrik watched the team practise the option play again and again at training.
文法句型
option play
option offense
用法筆記
Used only before a noun in American football talk ('option play', 'option offense'). The 'option' is the runner's split-second choice to run or pass.