opted

Opted is the past tense and past participle of the verb opt. The verb means to make a choice or to decide in favor of one option after considering alternatives. It is commonly used in formal or neutral writing to describe deliberate decisions.

In usage, opted is typically followed by to + verb, as in "opted to retire early" or "opted to take a different route." It can also be followed by for to indicate a preference between options, as in "opted for the cheaper plan," or by against to signal rejection, as in "opted against completing the project" or "opted against the proposal." In modern contexts, phrases like opted in and opted out describe decisions about participation in programs or services.

Etymology: The verb opt comes from Latin optare "to choose" and entered English via Old French in the medieval period. The sense "to decide in favor of" has remained consistent, and the related noun option shares the same root.

Usage notes: Opted is formal but widely understood. It tends to appear in policy discussions, journalism, and business writing. It should not be confused with option (a choice or alternative) or with optimize (to make something as good as possible), though they share a Latin root.