opted out

USAGE SUMMARY

"opted out" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It generally means to choose to not participate in something. For example, "When the class was offered extra credit, Alex opted out because he didn't want to take on any extra work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Others opted out altogether.

The New York Times

The UK opted out entirely.

Independent

And several countries "opted out".

The Economist

One had opted out in Charlotte, N.C.

The New York Times

Other small publishers opted out, too.

The Guardian - Books

She thinks "he opted out early".

The New York Times - Sports

(Twenty-four states have opted out).

The New Yorker

Others had opted out simply because it was easy.

The New York Times - Health

(Merce Cunningham and Paul Taylor, former members, also opted out).

The New York Times - Arts

The Greens opted out to assist the Lib Dem.

The Guardian

"A few have opted out – mainly those on lower wages.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "opted out" when you want to clearly communicate a decision not to participate in something that was previously an option or expectation. It suggests a conscious choice.

Common error

Avoid using "opted out" when you simply mean something was not selected without an active choice. "Opted out" implies a deliberate decision, not a default status.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "opted out" functions as a verb phrase, specifically the past tense of the phrasal verb "opt out". It indicates the action of choosing not to participate in something. Ludwig AI confirms this, showing the phrase is commonly used to describe a deliberate decision to withdraw.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "opted out" is a commonly used verb phrase that signifies a deliberate decision not to participate in something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its grammatical status is correct and it finds frequent application across diverse contexts, especially in News & Media. When writing, ensure you're conveying an active choice, not just a lack of participation. For alternatives, consider ""withdrew from"" or ""declined to participate"" for more formal settings, or "backed out of" for less formal situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

declined to participate

A formal way of stating a refusal to take part in something.

dissociated oneself from

Indicates a formal separation or distancing from a group, idea, or activity.

withdrew from

Indicates a more formal or official removal from a situation or agreement.

refused to engage

Indicates a deliberate choice to not become involved or interact with something.

backed out of

Suggests a less formal withdrawal, often implying a prior agreement or commitment.

passed on

An informal way to say someone declined an opportunity or offer.

took a pass

Similar to "passed on", suggesting a decision to not participate or take advantage of an opportunity.

bowed out

Implies a graceful or voluntary departure, often to avoid conflict or difficulty.

stepped aside

Implies vacating a position or role, often to allow someone else to take over.

excused oneself

Conveys a polite or formal withdrawal from a situation, often temporarily.

FAQs

What does it mean to have "opted out" of something?

To have "opted out" means that you have made a conscious decision not to participate in something, especially when participation was initially expected or implied. It suggests a deliberate choice to withdraw.

How to use "opted out" in a sentence?

You can use "opted out" to describe a person, group, or entity that has chosen not to participate in something. For example: "Many students "declined to participate", and the UK "withdrew from" the agreement."/

Which is correct, "opted out" or "opted in"?

Both "opted out" and "opted in" are correct, but they have opposite meanings. "Opted out" means to choose not to participate, while "opted in" means to choose to participate.

What can I say instead of "opted out"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like ""withdrew from"", "backed out of", or ""declined to participate"" to convey a similar meaning.