An option is something that you can choose to do in preference to one or more alternatives.

If you have the option of doing something, you can choose whether to do it or not.

In business, an option is an agreement or contract that gives someone the right to buy or sell something such as property or shares at a future date.

An option is one of a number of subjects which a student can choose to study as a part of his or her course.

If you keep your options open or leave your options open, you delay making a decision about something.

If you take the soft option, you do the thing that is easiest or least likely to cause trouble in a particular situation.