From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishoptionop‧tion /ˈɒpʃən $ ˈɑːp-/ ●●● S1 W2 AWL noun 1 choice [countable]CHOOSE a choice you can make in a particular situation → optional There are a number of options available. He had two options. This was not the only option open to him.option for a range of options for cutting costsone/another option is to do something Another option is to rent somewhere for six months.option of doing something She had the option of staying for an extra year. Teenage mothers often have no option but to (=have no other choice except to) live with their parents.2 → keep/leave your options open3 computers [countable]TD one of the possible choices you can make when using computer software Select an option from the main menu. a list of options4 → easy option5 right to buy/sell [countable]BBBF formal the right to buy or sell something in the futureoption on The government has agreed to buy 20 planes, with an option on a further 10. Connor now owns 302,000 shares and options.6 at school/university [countable] British EnglishSEC one of the subjects that you can choose to study at school for an examination, or as part of a course at a college or university advice on choosing your options7 something additional [countable]ADD something that is offered in addition to the standard equipment when you buy something new, especially a car8 → first optionCOLLOCATIONSverbshave an optionAt the moment, children have the option of leaving school at 16.In a situation like this, you have two options.give/offer somebody an optionSome employees were given the option of retiring early.Buyers will usually be offered the option of paying in instalments.choose an optionFewer women are choosing the option of motherhood.go for an option (=choose an option)Which option do you think they'll go for?take (up) an option (=choose an option )America was persuaded not to take up the option of military action. look at an option (=consider an option)You have to look at every option as your business develops.limit your options (=limit what you can choose to do)If you don’t go to college, it may limit your options.adjectivesa good/better optionRenting a house may be a better option than buying.an attractive option (=one that sounds or is good)If time is short, taking the car to northern France is an attractive option.a realistic/real/serious option (=something that you can really choose to do)I wanted to start my own business but financially it was never a realistic option.a viable/practical option (=something you can choose that will be successful)Surgery may be a viable option when all else fails.a popular optionIndependent sixth-form colleges are becoming a popular option.a cheap optionWe urgently need to find a cheaper option than oil or gas.a safe option (=one that involves no risk)A special savings account can be a safe option.somebody’s preferred option formal (=the option someone likes best)The new scheme appears to be the airport management’s preferred option.an easy option (also a soft option British English) (=a choice which is not difficult, or which needs the least effort)For most people, divorce is never an easy option.phrasesan option is open/available to somebody (=a particular choice is available to someone)Giving a prison sentence is only one of the options open to the judge.keep/leave your options open (=to not limit what you can choose to do later)Studying a broad range of subjects helps to keep your options open.have no/little option but to do something (=have no other choice than to do something)I had no option but to fire him.a range of optionsThe council is considering a range of options for improving the city’s transport system.
Examples from the Corpus
option• Leather seats are an option on the Toyota Camry.• Joining the military seemed like the best option at the time.• Working full-time may not be your best option.• Where these materials have to be cleaned methylene chloride is the only chemical option once items are soiled.• The Corrado also has a multi-function computer, while the Calibra has a no-cost option of metallic paint.• Murray pocketed $ 2,971, including options, and Kennedy won merchandise and $ 200 in options money.• I haven't signed any contracts yet - I want to keep my options open.• These people have no option but to take low paid unattractive work.• As for replacement fuels, many people do not like to contemplate the nuclear option.• He pointed out that a design could be drawn using one option and knitted using another.• Our only option now is to contact the police.• What other options do I have?• Press "P" to select the print option.• Among the options now under consideration, White House officials said, were a restoration of those earlier restrictions.• If the invitation says black tie optional, take the option.• He basically has two options: he can have the surgery, or he can give up playing football.have no option but to• Without the advantage of mobile clearinghouse personnel, the majority of clearinghouses have no option but to adopt this method.• Meanwhile farmers have no option but to fork out the ever-increasing premiums that insurers are demanding.• The discount houses have no option but to repay.• Smaller outfits with regional services or niche products will naturally have no option but to go for a cheaper solution.• The club now have no option but to dispense with his services.• The fact is that we have no option but to raise salaries.• We have no option but to modernise.• We have no option but to see it as movement from left to right.option on• After two years with the firm, employees are given an option on 100 shares of stock.From Longman Business Dictionaryoptionop‧tion /ˈɒpʃənˈɑːp-/ noun [countable]1a choice between two or more possible things, for example productsChoosing between the available options in mobile phones is very confusing.2something that is offered in addition to the standard equipment when you buy something, especially a carPassenger airbags are available as standard or as an option on all of its cars.3COMPUTING one of the possible choices you can make when using a computer programthe split-screen option4FINANCE (also option to purchase) when an organization buys something, the possibility that it will buy more lateroption for/onThe Spanish air force is due to take 87 of the aircraft, with an option for a further 16.Shanghai Aviation agreed to buy 26 MD-80s and took options on 15 others.5FINANCE the right to buy or sell shares, bonds, currencies, or COMMODITIES (=oil, metals, farm products etc) at a particular price within a particular period of time or on a particular date in the futureOptions allow an investor to bet on moves in large amounts of currencies using relatively small stakes.Each crude-oil options contract entitles its holder to buy or sell the equivalent of 1,000 barrels of oil at a predetermined price.The stock price fell and the option expired (=came to the end of the period of time when it could be used). → American option → call option → covered option → currency option → double option → European option → index option → in-the-money option → out-of-the-money option → put and call option → put option → share option → stock-index option → stock option → traded optionOrigin option (1500-1600) French Latin optio “free choice” 