[count] 1 : the opportunity or ability to choose something or to choose between two or more things
▪ You have the option of staying home or coming with us. ▪ He has the option to cancel the deal. ▪ Given the option [=choice], I'd rather stay home tonight. ▪ I'll probably take the job, but I'm leaving/keeping my options open [=waiting to decide; not making a final decision yet] for now. 2 : something that can be chosen : a choice or possibility
▪ For us, quitting is not an option. [=we cannot quit] ▪ You must accept the contract. There are no other options. [=alternatives] ▪ We have a wide range of options available to us. ▪ Menu options at the café include soups, salads, and sandwiches. ▪ Select an option from the drop-down menu. ▪ Filing taxes online is an option for people with Internet access. ▪ I had no option but to start over. ▪ A good/better option is to do the work yourself. ▪ The scandal left him no option but to resign. [=forced him to resign] 3 : a right to buy or sell something for a specified price during a specified period of time
▪ Employees will each be granted/given options to buy 1,000 shares of company stock. ▪ The option must be exercised within five years. ▪ The company has taken an option on some land nearby. [=it has obtained the right to buy the land at a particular price] ▪ The ad is for a condo to rent with an option to buy. [=a condo that you can choose to eventually buy for a specified price] — see also stock option 4 : an extra part or feature that you can pay to have in addition to the regular features that come with something you are buying
▪ A sunroof was one of the options that you could get with the car. 5 Brit : a class that is not required in a particular course of study : elective
▪ I took an option in history last year.