- See Also:
- - optimism
  - optimist
  - optimistic
  - optimization
  - optimize
  - optimum
  - optimum population
  - optimum programming
  - option
  - option money
  - optional
  - optionee
  - opto-
  - optoelectronics
  - optometer
  - optometrist
  - optometry
  - optophone
  - optotype
  - opulence
  - opulent
- Recent searches:
- View All

optional

UK:^*^*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈɒpʃ^ənəl/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(op′shə nl)

op•tion•al (op′shə nl),USA pronunciation adj.

left to one's choice;
not required or mandatory:Formal dress is optional.
leaving something to choice.

option + -al¹ 1755–65

op′tion•al′i•ty, n.
op′tion•al•ly, adv.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

optional /ˈɒpʃən^əl/ adj

possible but not compulsory; left to personal choice

ˈoptionally adv

op•tion /ˈɑpʃən/USA pronunciation n.

the power or right of choosing:[uncountable]to have no option but to stay.
something that may be chosen;
choice:[countable]Your options are law school or taking a job.
an item of equipment or an extra feature that may be chosen:[countable]The car had several options like power windows and a CD player.

v. [~ + object]

to take or grant an option on.

op•tion•al, adj.
op•tion•al•ly, adv. See -opt-.

choice

op•tion (op′shən),USA pronunciation n.

the power or right of choosing.
something that may be or is chosen;
choice.
the act of choosing.
an item of equipment or a feature that may be chosen as an addition to or replacement for standard equipment and features: a car with a long list of extra-cost options;
a telephoto lens option for a camera.
See stock option.
a privilege acquired, as by the payment of a premium or consideration, of demanding, within a specified time, the carrying out of a transaction upon stipulated terms;
the right, as granted in a contract or by an initial payment, of acquiring something in the future:We bought one lot and took a 90-day option on an adjoining one.
[Football.]a play in which a back has a choice of either passing or running with the ball.

v.t.

to acquire or grant an option on:The studio has optioned his latest novel for film adaptation.
to provide with optional equipment:The car can be fully optioned at additional cost.

Latin optiōn- (stem of optiō) choice, equivalent. to op(tāre) to select (see opt) + -tiōn- -tion
1595–1605

op′tion•a•ble, adj.

choice.

'optional' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

elective - privilege - votive - catchweight - dress - facultative - opt - option - permissive - sticker price

Synonyms: elective, nonobligatory, noncompulsory, unforced, volitional, more...

Collocations: [formal dress, attendance] is optional, [denotes, is, represents] an optional field, a (wide) [range, choice] of optional [accessories], more...

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "optional" in the title:

''from'' before where is optional?
''Optional holiday'' Vs ''Optional work day''
'saving' and 'cuts' uncountable nouns? So 's' is optional?
(optional) hyphen in metacognition / metacognitive?
"amount of " optional?
An optional item / not required of
appointed 'as' chairman [optional?]
Can I make a reservation for optional tour?
Clothing optional at beach ahead
Comma after "Firstly", "Here", etc. optional ?
declaration of 'the' independence of the country. [optional?]
elective course or optional course
Ever [necessary or optional?]
found out (that) [Is 'that' optional?]
Free/optional/unrestricted evaluation criteria
getting up in the morning really early <is> a big problem [optional?]
going test optional
Gold optional
<Have><did> you (done something) because it <is><was> optional?
He's [Necessary or optional?]
Here, is 'for' optional?
How (to) introduce myself? --Is the 'to' optional?
How long ... <for>? ['for' necessary or optional?]
I don't know that who he is. [is "that" optional?]
in <the> March, 1982 issue of Atlantic Monthly ['the' optional?]
Is 'her teacher' optional in the question?
is 'so much' optional?
Is 'The' optional?
is “for" optional
is can optional?
more...

Visit the English Only Forum.
Help WordReference: Ask in the forums yourself.

Look up "optional" at Merriam-Webster
Look up "optional" at dictionary.com

Go to Preferences page and choose from different actions for taps or mouse clicks.

URL: https://www.wordreference.com/definition/optional

⇱ optional - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

optional