1
2
a
: to have a preference for
choose one car over another
b
: decide
chose to go by train
1
: to make a selection
finding it hard to choose
2
: to take an alternative
—used after cannot and usually followed by but
when earth is so kind, men cannot choose but be happy—
J. A. Froude
J. A. FroudeSynonyms
Examples of choose in a Sentence
Each year thousands of college students choose volunteer-service trips over beach bumming during their spring breaks and summer vacations.
—Edward M. Kennedy, Time, 22 Sept. 2008
I had been invited to choose certain things that I might want from the house, but although there were indeed a couple of things that I would have liked, I was withheld from making the trip …
—Alice Adams, "Why I Write,"
in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987
… as an instructor at New York University he chose to live by himself in lodgings that for the time must have been very expensive …
—William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982
Any summary I might try to write for the rest of the novel would be worthless and I don't choose to waste my time at it.
—Flannery O'Connor, The Habit of Being, 1979
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?
How do I choose when there's so much available?
Let everyone choose for themselves.
You can choose from among a number of alternatives.
Edward M. Kennedy, Time, 22 Sept. 2008
I had been invited to choose certain things that I might want from the house, but although there were indeed a couple of things that I would have liked, I was withheld from making the trip …
—Alice Adams, "Why I Write,"
in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987
… as an instructor at New York University he chose to live by himself in lodgings that for the time must have been very expensive …
—William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982
Any summary I might try to write for the rest of the novel would be worthless and I don't choose to waste my time at it.
—Flannery O'Connor, The Habit of Being, 1979
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?
How do I choose when there's so much available?
Let everyone choose for themselves.
You can choose from among a number of alternatives.
Recent Examples on the Web
Workout: Ruck for a total of 20 to 30 minutes, choosing a route with hills.
—Alyssa Ages, Outside Online, 18 Nov. 2024
Dave Jones, a former insurance commissioner in California, said some commissioners fear that stricter enforcement could drive companies out of their states, leaving their constituents with fewer plans to choose from.
—Max Blau, ProPublica, 14 Nov. 2024
No one can focus because every time Jeff chooses someone to yap about an irrelevant topic like the power of comradeship, the name changes behind them.
—Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
In a blog post, Kuo adds that Apple has chosen AirPods manufacturer Goertek Inc. as the exclusive supplier for its security cameras.
—Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for choose 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Alyssa Ages, Outside Online, 18 Nov. 2024
Dave Jones, a former insurance commissioner in California, said some commissioners fear that stricter enforcement could drive companies out of their states, leaving their constituents with fewer plans to choose from.
—Max Blau, ProPublica, 14 Nov. 2024
No one can focus because every time Jeff chooses someone to yap about an irrelevant topic like the power of comradeship, the name changes behind them.
—Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
In a blog post, Kuo adds that Apple has chosen AirPods manufacturer Goertek Inc. as the exclusive supplier for its security cameras.
—Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for choose
Dictionary Entries Near choose
Cite this Entry
“Choose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/choose. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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