- [countable] an act of choosing between two or more possibilities; something that you can choose
- We are faced with a difficult choice.
- choice between A and B Many people will be forced to make a choice between heating and eating this winter.
- We aim to help students make more informed career choices.
- I am sure you have made the right choice.
- Resources are finite, and choices have to be made between competing priorities and needs.
- There is a wide range of choices open to you.
Synonyms optionoptionchoice ▪ alternative ▪ possibilityThese are all words for something that you choose to do in a particular situation.option something that you can choose to have or do; the freedom to choose what you do:- As I see it, we have two options…
- Students have the option of studying abroad in their second year.
- If I had the choice, I would stop working tomorrow.
- There is a wide range of choices open to you.
- You can be paid in cash weekly or by cheque monthly: those are the two alternatives.
- We need to explore a wide range of possibilities.
- The possibilities are endless.
- with/without the option/choice/possibility of something
- a(n) good/acceptable/reasonable/possible option/choice/alternative
- the only option/choice/alternative/possibility open to somebody
- to have a/an/the option/choice of doing something
- to have no option/choice/alternative but to do something
- a number/range of options/choices/alternatives/possibilities
Express Yourself Giving reasons, justifying a choiceGiving reasons, justifying a choiceIn various exams, you are asked to make a choice and give reasons for it. In conversation or in a meeting, you may need to explain and justify your decisions:- There are two main reasons why I think it’s the best option: first, there's the cost and second, the quality.
- I believe it's the right thing to do because it gives everyone a fair chance.
- I would choose the newer one on the grounds that it will last longer.
- Of the three houses, the largest one seems to me to be the best, because they need the room.
- My choice would be number 3, simply because it's the clearest design.
Extra ExamplesTopics Preferences and decisionsa2- Doctors have to make moral choices every day of their lives.
- These are personal choices that people must make for themselves.
- I now had a clear choice: either I accept their terms or I leave.
- In the end, the choice was quite easy.
- She faced the stark choice of backing the new plan or losing her job.
- When did you make a conscious choice to become an artist?
- Your needs should dictate your choice.
- a careful choice of words
- a limited range of choices available to buyers
- a range of available choices
- to make choices about their future
- Leaders must make good decisions and tough choices.
- He wondered whether he had made the right choice.
- Nutrition factors are driving consumer choices.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- careful
- good
- informed
- …
- make
- be faced with
- face
- …
- by choice
- from choice
- out of choice
- …
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- [uncountable, singular] the right to choose; the possibility of choosing
- If I had the choice, I would stop working tomorrow.
- He had no choice but to leave (= this was the only thing he could do).
- She's going to do it. She doesn't have much choice, really, does she?
- This government is committed to extending parental choice in education.
- After a delicious meal, the choice is yours: the late night disco or a stroll along the beach beneath a starry sky.
- Sandy had to tell his tale in halting Italian. Since Franco spoke no English, he had no choice in the matter.
Extra ExamplesTopics Preferences and decisionsa2- He had no choice about that.
- I had no choice but to cancel my holiday.
- The way he behaved meant that we had no choice in the matter.
- We gave her the choice, and she decided she'd like a bike for her birthday.
- Everyone in a democracy has the right to exercise choice.
- Your decision leaves me with no choice but to resign.
- You can have first choice of all the rooms.
- to extend parental choice as to which schools children should attend
- People still have a choice about where to live.
- I believe in freedom of choice.
- They were left with no choice but to trust her.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- clear
- free
- first
- …
- have
- exercise
- give somebody
- …
- choice about
- choice as to
- choice between
- …
- freedom of choice
- have little choice but to do something
- have no choice but to do something
- …
- [countable] a person or thing that is chosen
- This colour wasn't my first choice.
- choice for something She's the obvious choice for the job.
- Hawaii remains a popular choice for winter vacation travel.
- choice as something She wouldn't be my choice as manager.
- choice of something I don’t like his choice of friends (= the people he chooses as his friends).
Synonyms choicechoicefavourite ▪ preference ▪ selection ▪ pickThese are all words for a person or thing that is chosen, or that is liked more than others.choice a person or thing that is chosen:- She’s the obvious choice for the job.
- Which one’s your favourite?
- Tastes and preferences vary from individual to individual.
- A selection of reader’s comments are published below.
- She was his pick for best actress.
- somebody’s choice/favourite/pick for something
- somebody’s choice/selection/pick as something
- an obvious choice/favourite/selection
- a(n) excellent/good/popular/fine choice/selection
Extra ExamplesTopics Preferences and decisionsa2- I think she's a very good choice for captain.
- It was a happy choice of venue
- Maria defended her choice of name for the child.
- Mary is a popular choice as chair of the committee.
- Much ill health is the result of poor diet and lifestyle choices.
- Our first choice for a holiday is the north of Scotland.
- Our first choice for a site was already taken.
- People were asked about their top choices for meeting locations.
- She questioned the choice of Murphy for this role.
- She was starting to regret her choice.
- The hotel is the preferred choice for business people.
- Bill is the obvious choice for captain of the team.
- I don't think much of her choice of outfit.
- The restaurant is a good choice for a night out.
- He seems an odd choice for this sort of work.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- excellent
- good
- happy
- …
- regret
- defend
- justify
- …
- choice as
- choice for
- choice of
- …
- [singular, uncountable] the number or range of different things from which to choose
- The menu has a good choice of desserts.
- There wasn't much choice of colour.
- I can't decide. There's too much choice.
Extra ExamplesTopics Preferences and decisionsa2- The shop has a very limited choice of ties.
- We offer a choice of ten different destinations.
- The curtains come in a choice of twelve different colours.
- Do supermarkets offer consumers too much choice?
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- good
- wide
- limited
- …
- have
- offer
- limit
- …
- be available (to somebody)
- be open to somebody
- choice of
- be spoilt for choice
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French chois, from choisir ‘choose’, of Germanic origin and related to choose.
Idioms
See choice in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee choice in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishbe spoilt for choice
- (British English) to have such a lot of things to choose from that it is very difficult to make a decisionTopics Preferences and decisionsc1
by choice
- because you have chosen
- I wouldn't go there by choice.
- I wouldn't have come to this cafe by choice!
of choice (for somebody/something)
- (used after a noun) that is chosen by a particular group of people or for a particular purpose
- It's the software of choice for business use.
of your choice
- that you choose yourself
- First prize will be a meal for two at the restaurant of your choice.
you pays your money and you takes your choice
- (informal, especially British English) used for saying that there is very little difference between two or more things that you can choose
Check pronunciation:
choice