What is the difference between choose and pick?

Choose is neutral. Pick is more casual and often sounds more spoken.

Is choose formal or informal?

Choose is neutral and works in both speech and writing.

How do I use choose in a sentence?

Use it with an object: 'choose a book' or 'choose to leave early'.

← Dictionary

choose

/tʃuːz/

IELTSAcademic

verb

To decide on one person, thing, or course of action from two or more possibilities. It often means making a deliberate decision after thinking.

She chose the blue shirt.
You can choose any seat.
They chose to stay home.

Adinary Nuance

Choose is the most general word for making a selection. Pick is more casual and often sounds more everyday. Select is a little more formal and is common in writing, forms, and business or academic contexts.

In other languages

Vietnamese: chọn
Spanish: elegir
Chinese: 选择
Japanese: 選ぶ
Korean: 선택하다

Etymology

Old English cēosan meant 'to select' or 'to test and pick'. It is related to German küren and has kept the same basic meaning in Modern English.

Common phrases

choose betweenchoose fromchoose wiselychoose one

Synonyms

select pick decide on

Related words

choice selection option prefer

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between choose and pick?: Choose is neutral. Pick is more casual and often sounds more spoken.
Is choose formal or informal?: Choose is neutral and works in both speech and writing.
How do I use choose in a sentence?: Use it with an object: 'choose a book' or 'choose to leave early'.