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optional Definition

op·tional (äps̸hə nəl)

adjective

left to one's option, or choice; not compulsory; elective

optional Related Forms
op·tion·ally adverb
optional Synonyms

optional

modif.

discretionary, elective, nonobligatory, noncompulsory, free, unrestricted, arbitrary, unforced, volitional, not required, according to one's will, with no strings attached*, take it or leave it*; see also voluntary.

Antonyms necessary*, compulsory, enforced.

optional Usage Examples

Preposition: for

  • student: Optional for Students This class is optional for second year BSc or MSci in Mathematics students.
  • user: Normally there is some logging mechanism to make the extra messages optional for the user.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • make: Normally there is some logging mechanism to make the extra messages optional for the user.

Modifies a noun

  • excursion: From here, you can join an optional air excursion to the scenic Torres del Paine National Park, high in the Andes.
  • module: Optional modules are marked with an " O " .
  • subtitle: You can select to view the film with optional English subtitles.
  • extra: Charges may be made for optional extras in terms of activities arranged by the school to take place wholly outside school hours.
  • add-on: An optional add-on 3D molecule viewer is available for Windows users - see below.
  • commentary: Alternate ending ( with optional commentary by writer/director Thurber ).

Modifying Another Word

  • entirely: We will also take the opportunity to conduct a firewalk ( entirely optional!
  • purely: In any case, these actions are purely optional, although it is highly recommended to do this.
  • completely: As writing the Learning Journal was completely optional, only five out of fifteen students completed it.
  • not: Please note that these issues are not optional extras.
  • now: ALL named parameters are now optional Change: handling of todo memo.
  • always: With these chords, the 6th string is always optional.

Used with adjective complement

  • become: The Annual Meeting with parents has now become optional.
  • consider: Those that are considered optional are shown in italics.
  • take: Take optional locally taught Spanish lessons prior to the expedition.
  • make: These fields may not be deleted from the database, the class type changed, or made optional.
  • use: The camera's generous 56MB internal memory is complemented by storage using optional Memory Stick Duo or Memory Stick PRO Duo media.