choose

choose

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Pronunciation

/tʃuːz/

• /tʃ/ - The "ch" sound, a voiceless post-alveolar affricate.

• /uː/ - The "oo" sound, a long close back rounded vowel.

• /z/ - The "z" sound, a voiced alveolar fricative.

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Word Form Variations

Verb Forms (Conjugations of "choose"):

• Base Form/Infinitive: choose (e.g., to choose, I choose)

• Third-person singular present: chooses (e.g., he/she/it chooses)

• Past Simple: chose (e.g., I chose, they chose)

• Past Participle: chosen (e.g., I have chosen, it was chosen)

• Present Participle/Gerund: choosing (e.g., I am choosing, choosing a path)

Related Noun:

• Singular: choice (e.g., one choice)

• Plural: choices (e.g., many choices)

Other related terms:

• Adjective: choosable (able to be chosen)

• Noun: chooser (one who chooses)

• Verb (prefix): prechoose, rechoose

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

I. Verb

1. Definition: To select or pick out from a greater number of possibilities; to make a decision when faced with two or more alternatives. This often implies a conscious act of deliberation or preference.

• Synonyms: select, pick, opt for, decide upon, elect, prefer, settle on, determine, identify

• Antonyms: reject, discard, refuse, decline, renounce, abstain, dismiss, ignore, forgo

2. Definition: To have a preference or inclination towards something; to decide to do something. This usage emphasizes the act of making a personal decision or demonstrating a will.

• Synonyms: prefer, wish, desire, intend, decide, resolve, undertake

• Antonyms: avoid, refrain, resist, hesitate, waver, relinquish

II. Related Nouns (derived from "choose" or closely associated)

While "choose" itself is not typically a noun in common usage, the act or outcome of choosing is represented by the noun "choice."

Choice

1. Definition: The act of choosing or selecting; the ability or opportunity to choose.

• Synonyms: selection, option, alternative, decision, preference, pick, election, determination

• Antonyms: necessity, obligation, compulsion, fate, destiny, constraint, limitation

2. Definition: A person or thing chosen or preferred above others.

• Synonyms: favorite, best, pick, elite, cream, prime, gem, selection

• Antonyms: rejected, discarded, inferior, least favorite, undesirable

III. Related Adjective

Chosen (Past participle of "choose," often used adjectivally)

1. Definition: Selected or picked out as being the best or most suitable; specially preferred or appointed.

• Synonyms: selected, preferred, handpicked, elected, appointed, designated, favored, elite, exclusive

• Antonyms: rejected, unchosen, discarded, unwanted, overlooked, unselected, random

Choosy (Derived from "choose")

1. Definition: Difficult to please; particular about what one chooses.

• Synonyms: picky, particular, selective, fastidious, fussy, discerning, finicky, persnickety

• Antonyms: uncritical, indiscriminate, undemanding, easygoing, agreeable, tolerant

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Examples of Use

Books:

• "But Harry, I've said it before, and I'll say it again. You've got to choose." (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)

• "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be." The implication here is that our actions, which are a form of choosing, define us. (Kurt Vonnegut, Mother Night)

Newspapers:

• "Voters in the upcoming election will have to choose between experience and a fresh approach." (The New York Times, June 25, 2025)

• "The city council chose to delay the vote on the new zoning laws until next month." (Daily Nation, Nairobi, July 1, 2025)

Online Publications:

• "How to Choose the Right Laptop for Your Needs: A Comprehensive Guide." (TechCrunch.com, May 10, 2025)

• "Many companies are now allowing employees to choose where they work, embracing a hybrid model." (Harvard Business Review Online, April 15, 2025)

Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Video Games: "You must choose your destiny." (Common dialogue prompt in role-playing games, e.g., The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim or Mass Effect series)

• Movies: "I chose to believe in you." (Dialogue from a hypothetical dramatic film scene)

• TV Shows: "In this season's finale, the contestants must choose their final partners." (From a hypothetical reality TV show, e.g., Love Island)

• Music Lyrics: "If you choose to run, I will always find you." (Hypothetical lyric from a popular song)

• Podcasts: "Today, we're discussing how to choose healthier habits in your daily life." (From a hypothetical health and wellness podcast)

General Public Discourse:

• "I need to choose what to wear for the party tonight." (Casual conversation between friends)

• "We have to choose a date for the family reunion." (Discussion among family members)

• "If I had to choose one place to live, it would be by the ocean." (Expression of personal preference)

• "You have the choice to be happy." (Motivational statement often heard in self-help discussions)

• "Let's choose the most efficient route to avoid traffic." (Everyday decision-making

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10 Famous Quotes Using Choose

1. "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be." The implication here is that our actions, which are a form of choosing, define us. (Kurt Vonnegut, Mother Night)

2. "I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions." (Stephen Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People)

3. "Happiness is a choice, not a result. Nothing will make you happy until you choose to be happy." (Ralph Marston)

4. "Every morning you have two choices: continue to sleep with your dreams, or wake up and chase them." (Unknown, often attributed to various motivational speakers)

5. "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)

6. "You are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequences of your choice." (Unknown, widely attributed)

7. "Life is about choices. Some we regret, some we are proud of. Some will haunt us forever. The message: We are what we choose to be." (Graham Brown)

8. "Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does. It is up to you to give life a meaning." (Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness - encapsulates the burden of choosing)

9. "The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

10. "Be mindful of your thoughts, for your thoughts lead to your words, your words lead to your actions, your actions lead to your habits, your habits lead to your character, and your character becomes your destiny." (Attributed to Lao Tzu or various Buddhist teachings - emphasizing the foundational role of choosing thoughts)

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Etymology

The word "choose" has a long and interesting history, tracing its roots all the way back to ancient languages.

In simple terms, "choose" comes from a very old Germanic word that basically meant "to taste" or "to try." Imagine trying different foods to pick the one you like best – that's the core idea. Over time, this idea of "tasting" or "trying" something evolved into the meaning of "selecting" or "picking out."

The first known use of "choose" in English goes back to the Old English period (before 1150 AD). At that time, it appeared as "ċēosan." Its meaning was broad, including "to choose, seek out, select, elect, decide, test, accept, or approve." So, right from the beginning, it carried the sense of making a decision or preference from various options.

As English developed through Middle English, the spelling changed a bit, and by about 1200, the past participle had settled into "chosen," similar to how we use it today. The related word "choice" actually came into English a bit later, borrowed from Old French, but it too shares a common Germanic ancestor with "choose."

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Choose

Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "choose" or its close variations, supplemented where common idioms are less frequent:

1. Choose wisely: To make a careful and considered decision.

2. Choose sides: To decide which of two opposing groups or opinions one supports.

3. To each their own (choice): Everyone has the right to their own preferences or decisions.

4. Make one's choice: To come to a decision or selection.

5. Have no choice but to...: To be compelled or forced to do something.

6. Pick and choose: To select only what one finds most desirable, often implying a degree of fussiness.

7. Choose one's words carefully: To speak thoughtfully and with precision, especially in sensitive situations.

8. The choice is yours: You are the one who has the power to decide.

9. Between a rock and a hard place: (Idiom with a similar effect, implying a difficult choice) Caught in a dilemma with no easy solution.

10. Spoiled for choice: Having so many good options that it's difficult to decide.

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of choose from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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