opted

USAGE SUMMARY

'opted' is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used as a past tense verb meaning "to choose" or "to select". Example sentence: She opted to take the train rather than fly.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Since last July the state has opted to use just one massive dose of the sedative pentobarbital as its lethal injection, instead of a cocktail of three different drugs.

The Guardian

"Rather than preventing that, it seems they have opted for making inequalities even greater," he said.

The Guardian

You can't visit Antigua without going sailing: we opted for a romantic sunset sail around the bay.

The Guardian - Travel

The researchers conducting the drug trials opted to give the treatments to all patients who want them, with the support of a World Health Organisation ethics committee, which decided that the death rate was so high it would be unethical to deprive anybody of a drug that might work.

The Guardian

It was a vital debate at the time since those who argued for the latter usually believed that homosexuals had opted for an easy life of wanton hedonism, and therefore did not deserve to be rewarded with gay sex being legal at 16.

The Guardian - Film

The dry weather meant I opted for plenty of cushioning and stability with Salomon's XA Pro 3D Ultra.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

You can go round them in an orderly fashion, but we opted to go around the houses in order to get as much sailing experience as possible.

The Guardian - Travel

But Vilhjálmsdóttir opted to press defamation charges and her lawyers have announced they will seek the "maximum punishment", which is one year in prison for each offence.

The Guardian

First, while the coalition has opted for certain research priorities, it is hard to prove they do not align with the science and research community.

The Guardian

"Otherwise, apart from limited exceptions, once employees have opted into shared parental leave they cannot then revert to maternity leave," Bloodworth says.

The Guardian - Money

Buchan's fire is The Great Fire, about 1666, and Jodie Whittaker has opted for a modern drama about firefighters called The Smoke, but they probably did want a change of scene after, as Buchan describes it, "four months of grieving" on Broadchurch as the parents of murder-victim Danny.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "opted" when you want to convey a conscious and deliberate choice between multiple possibilities. It implies a degree of consideration or preference.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "opted" (to choose) with "adopted" (to take something as one's own). While both involve selection, "opted" implies a choice between alternatives, whereas "adopted" implies taking on something new.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "opted" is a verb, specifically the past tense of "opt". It indicates the act of making a choice or decision. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this verb form is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "opted" is the past tense form of "opt", meaning to choose. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It's a common verb, particularly in news and media contexts, used to report a decision or selection made in the past. While generally neutral in tone, it can convey a sense of deliberate or formal choice. When using "opted", be mindful of the subtle differences between "opted in" and "opted into", and avoid confusion with similar-sounding words like "adopted".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

chose

Direct synonym indicating a past choice or decision.

selected

Formal synonym emphasizing careful decision-making.

decided

Indicates a firm resolution or determination.

elected

Suggests selection through a formal process, often involving voting.

preferred

Highlights a favored choice among alternatives.

determined

Emphasizes the process of figuring out which course of action is best.

resolved

Indicates a firm decision made after consideration.

took the option

Highlights the selection from available options.

made the choice

Emphasizes the action of making a decision.

settled on

Suggests a final decision after considering alternatives.

FAQs

How do you use "opted" in a sentence?

"Opted" is the past tense of the verb "opt", meaning to make a choice. For example: "She "opted" to study abroad."

What are some alternatives to using "opted"?

Depending on the context, you can use synonyms like "chose", "selected", or "decided" instead of "opted".

Is it correct to say "opted in" or "opted into"?

Both are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Opted in" generally means to choose to participate in something, while "opted into" means to choose to enter into an agreement or system.

What's the difference between "opted" and "chose"?

While both "opted" and "chose" indicate a selection, "opted" often implies a more formal or deliberate decision-making process than "chose".