Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1800-1900
Language: French
Origin: opter, from Latin optare 'to choose'

opt

 verb
     
opt [intransitive]
to choose one thing or do one thing instead of another
opt for
We finally opted for the wood finish.
opt to do something
Many young people are opting to go on to college.

opt in

phrasal verb
to decide to join a group or system
opt in to
Employees have the choice to opt in to the scheme.

opt out

phrasal verb
1 to avoid doing a duty
opt out of
You can't just opt out of all responsibility for the child!
2 to decide not to be part of a group or system
opt out of
Britain wants to opt out of the new European regulations.
3PEPG if a school or hospital in Britain opts out, it decides to control the money that it is given by the government, instead of being controlled by local government
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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