Phrase guide

opt out

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To choose not to participate in something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

choose not to do something, as out of fear of failing

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She copped out when she was supposed to get into the hang glider

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cop out

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: choose, prefer, opt

History

Etymology

From opt + out.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: jättää väliin — To choose not to participate in something
  • Finnish: jättäytyä pois — To choose not to participate in something
  • French: se désengager — To choose not to participate in something
  • German: ablehnen — To choose not to participate in something
  • Japanese: オプトアウトする — To choose not to participate in something
  • Polish: wypisywać się — To choose not to participate in something
  • Polish: wypisać się — To choose not to participate in something
  • Polish: wycofywać się — To choose not to participate in something
  • Polish: wycofać się — To choose not to participate in something
  • Polish: rezygnować — To choose not to participate in something
  • Polish: zrezygnować — To choose not to participate in something
  • Russian: устраняться (ustranjatʹsja) — To choose not to participate in something
  • Russian: отказа́ться (otkazátʹsja) — To choose not to participate in something
  • Serbo-Croatian: pòvūći se — To choose not to participate in something
  • Spanish: optar por no participar — To choose not to participate in something
  • Spanish: optar por salirse (de) — To choose not to participate in something