choose

S2 W1

BrE /tʃuːz/ AmE /tʃuz/

verb en → es

past chose pp chosen ing choosing

1 SELECT [transitive, T + obj] A2

to decide to have or use something, or to make a decision about what you want

elegir, seleccionar, optar por

  • choose something
  • choose somebody

Collocations choose a career · choose a partner

  • She chose to study medicine.

    Ella eligió estudiar medicina.

2 PICK [transitive, T + obj] B1

to select someone or something from a group of people or things, especially because they are the best or most suitable for what you want to do

elegir, seleccionar, escoger

  • choose somebody/something from a group

Collocations choose someone for a job · choose something as the best option

  • The company chose him to lead the project.

    La empresa eligió a él para dirigir el proyecto.

3 DECIDE [intransitive] B1

to make a decision about something, especially after considering different possibilities or opinions

decidir, optar por

  • choose to do something

Collocations choose not to do something · choose to stay

  • He chose to ignore the advice.

    Él decidió ignorar el consejo.

4 PREFER [transitive, T + obj] B1

to prefer one thing or person over another, especially when you have to make a choice between them

preferir, elegir

  • choose something/somebody over somebody/something

Collocations choose one thing over another · choose someone over someone else

  • She chose her family over her job.

    Ella eligió a su familia sobre el trabajo.

5 PICK [transitive, T + obj] B2

to select something or someone for a particular purpose, often from a group of people or things

elegir, seleccionar

  • choose somebody/something for a job

Collocations choose someone for an interview · choose something for a project

  • They chose her for the role.

    Ellos eligieron a ella para el papel.

6 DECIDE [intransitive] B2

to make a decision about something, often after considering different options or opinions

decidir, optar por

  • choose to do something

Collocations choose not to participate · choose to leave

  • She chose to stay in the city.

    Ella decidió quedarse en la ciudad.

7 SELECT [transitive, T + obj] C1

to select something or someone for a particular purpose, often from a group of people or things

elegir, seleccionar

  • choose somebody/something for a job

Collocations choose someone for an interview · choose something for a project

  • They chose her for the role.

    Ellos eligieron a ella para el papel.

8 DECIDE [intransitive] C1

to make a decision about something, often after considering different options or opinions

decidir, optar por

  • choose to do something

Collocations choose not to participate · choose to leave

  • She chose to stay in the city.

    Ella decidió quedarse en la ciudad.

Phrasal verbs

choose out SELECT B2

seleccionar, elegir

  • She chose out the best candidates.

    Ella seleccionó a los mejores candidatos.

choose up GROUP B2

seleccionar, elegir

  • The children chose up their teams.

    Los niños eligieron sus equipos.

choose over PREFER B2

preferir, elegir

  • She chose him over all the others.

    Ella eligió a él sobre todos los demás.

choose against DECIDE C1

decidir contra, elegir no

  • They chose against the proposal.

    Ellos decidieron en contra de la propuesta.

choose for SELECT C1

elegir para, seleccionar

  • They chose her for the role.

    Ellos eligieron a ella para el papel.

Idioms

choose one's battles B2

elegir sus batallas

  • He knows when to choose his battles.

    Él sabe cuándo elegir sus batallas.

choose sides B2

elegir bandos

  • They chose sides in the argument.

    Ellos eligieron bandos en la discusión.

choose to do something C1

decidir hacer algo

  • She chose to ignore the advice.

    Ella decidió ignorar el consejo.