optional
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“But understanding longevity isn’t optional — it is foundational to retirement security.”
From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026
SEC Chairman Paul Atkins aims to reverse the decline in initial public offerings by making quarterly reporting optional.
From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026
Another said: "My life might have been different if I'd read this book before I married. Back then, I never realised that marriage was optional."
From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026
A small squeeze of lemon juice is optional, depending on how sharp you want the edges.
From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026
"You chose to write about them for the optional essay question. Would you care to hear what you had to say?"
From "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger
Vocabulary lists containing optional
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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100 SAT words Beginning with "O"
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New Kid
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