{
    "term": "option",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "academic": true,
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "something that you can choose to have or do; the freedom to choose what you do",
            "sensetop": "option of doing somethingoption of somethingoption to do something",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "As I see it, we **have** two **options**…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "There are various options open to you."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to **explore/consider/look at** all your **options**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "We are currently studying all the options available."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Going to college was not an option for me."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Selling the house was our **only option**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Waiting a year may be your **best option**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We felt this was the most **viable option**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I had **no option but to** *(= I had to)* ask him to leave."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Students have the option of studying abroad in their second year.",
                    "contextForm": "option of doing something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He was given one month’s imprisonment without the option of a fine.",
                    "contextForm": "option of something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "A savings plan that gives you the option to vary your monthly payments.",
                    "contextForm": "option to do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "This particular model comes with a wide range of options *(= things you can choose to have when buying something but which you will have to pay extra for)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "In most cases, I would go for the cheaper option."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Farming is not an attractive career option for many young people."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The poor villagers are left with no option but to risk their lives."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Your doctor will discuss treatment options with you."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Failure is not an option."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Deciding on your best option is not easy."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Resignation was her only option."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You have the option of taking your holiday early."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You have the option of working full-time or part-time."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Preferences and decisions"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["available", "possible", "viable"],
                "verb + option": ["choose", "exercise", "select"],
                "phrases": ["keep your options open", "leave your options open"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "a subject that a student can choose to study, but that they do not have to do",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The course offers options in design and computing."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Preferences and decisions"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["available", "possible", "viable"],
                "verb + option": ["choose", "exercise", "select"],
                "phrases": ["keep your options open", "leave your options open"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "the right to buy or sell something at some time in the future",
            "sensetop": "option on somethingoption to do something",
            "cefr": "c2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "share options *(= the right to buy shares in a company)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "We have an option on the house.",
                    "contextForm": "option on something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He has promised me first option on his car *(= the opportunity to buy it before anyone else)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The property is for rent with an option to buy at any time.",
                    "contextForm": "option to do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They **exercised an option** on their lease to buy the building."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She took up an option in her contract to buy three million shares."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Money"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["first", "share", "stock"],
                "verb + option": ["have", "exercise", "take"],
                "preposition": ["option on"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "one of the choices you can make when using a computer program",
            "labels": "(computing)",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Choose the ‘Cut’ option from the Edit menu."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Look at the on-screen menu and select the ‘File’ option."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Computers"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["available", "possible", "viable"],
                "verb + option": ["choose", "exercise", "select"],
                "phrases": ["keep your options open", "leave your options open"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to avoid making a decision now so that you still have a choice in the future",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "At the moment I'm keeping my options open and applying for as many different jobs as possible."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Preferences and decisions"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "a choice that is thought to be easier because it involves less effort, difficulty, etc.",
            "labels": "(often disapproving)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "They are anxious that the new course should not be seen as a soft option."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He decided to **take the easy option** and give them what they wanted."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She could have taken the easy option and left."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Preferences and decisions"]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈɒpʃn/",
                "audio": "op/option/option__gb_2.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈɑːpʃn/",
                "audio": "op/option/option__us_2.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "mid 16th cent.: from French, or from Latin optio(n-), from the stem of optare ‘choose’."
}