opted; opting; opts
: to make a choice
especially
: to decide in favor of something
opted for a tax increase —
Tom Wicker
Tom Wicker After perusing the menu he opted for the prime rib.
1
optical; optician; optics
2
option; optional
Synonyms
Examples of opt in a Sentence
Verb
after that near catastrophe, they opted to reinstate the telephone service
Recent Examples on the Web
Pol Ballús, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
Clients who go that route often opt to continue operating it as a business for periods each year—long-term vacancy in any house causes more problems than occupancy, after all—with guests welcomed for, say, 10 months each year but peak summer reserved solely for extended family.
—The Editors, Robb Report, 2 Feb. 2025
That might mean opting to stand in the back of a conference room during a big staff meeting, taking a call while going on a walk or reading a report with your feet propped up in the break room.
—Margaret Cirino, NPR, 2 Feb. 2025
City of Winston-Salem paved the track, bringing NASCAR to Bowman Gray
Racing was bringing big crowds to Bowman Gray, and city officials opted to pave the quarter-mile dirt track in 1947.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 2 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for opt 
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Verb
The Alaves holding midfielder Ander Guevara now stood in Yamal’s path and fancied trying his luck, and with so many players crowded around him, Yamal opted to find his team-mate Raphinha in plenty of space out on the left-hand side.
—Pol Ballús, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
Clients who go that route often opt to continue operating it as a business for periods each year—long-term vacancy in any house causes more problems than occupancy, after all—with guests welcomed for, say, 10 months each year but peak summer reserved solely for extended family.
—The Editors, Robb Report, 2 Feb. 2025
That might mean opting to stand in the back of a conference room during a big staff meeting, taking a call while going on a walk or reading a report with your feet propped up in the break room.
—Margaret Cirino, NPR, 2 Feb. 2025
City of Winston-Salem paved the track, bringing NASCAR to Bowman Gray
Racing was bringing big crowds to Bowman Gray, and city officials opted to pave the quarter-mile dirt track in 1947.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 2 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for opt
Dictionary Entries Near opt
Cite this Entry
“Opt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opt. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.
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