opt out — choose not to take part (in something)
phrasal verbC1IELTS 7+neutraloccasional
to decide not to participate in something, or to remove yourself from an activity, group, or system that you could be part of
Say it like a native
Textbook Participants may decline to participate in the scheme.
Native You can opt out of the scheme anytime.
'Opt out' is the natural verb for choosing not to take part; 'decline to participate' is formal.
Pattern: opt out (of something)
In use
- You can opt out of the company's pension scheme if you prefer to manage your own savings.daily life
- Some people believe that individuals should have the right to opt out of certain government programmes if they disagree with them.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ You can opt out the pension scheme.
✓ You can opt out of the pension scheme.
'Opt OUT OF' something — don't drop 'of'.
Common collocations
opt out + of— of the scheme, of cookies, of the trip, entirely
Don't confuse it
This sense is different from simply 'not joining' (never being involved); 'opt out' means you actively choose not to take part in something you could be included in or were expected to join.