Is weigh the options formal or informal?

Neutral. It works well in meetings and internal emails. For very formal writing, try evaluate the alternatives or consider the alternatives.

Is it correct to say weigh my options and weigh our options?

Yes. Weigh my options is personal; weigh our options is team-focused. Both are natural.

Weigh the options vs weigh up the options — what’s the difference?

Weigh the options is common in American English. Weigh up the options is common in British English. They mean the same thing.

Do I need a preposition after weigh?

No. Say weigh the options or weigh our options. No preposition after weigh.

What’s the difference between weigh the options and weigh the pros and cons?

Weigh the options focuses on different paths. Weigh the pros and cons compares advantages and disadvantages. People often use both.

What are good synonyms for weigh the options?

Consider the alternatives, review the options, evaluate choices, look at the trade-offs.

What’s the opposite of weigh the options?

Rush into a decision or jump to a decision.

How do I use it in an email?

Try lines like: Let's weigh our options and decide tomorrow; We're still weighing the options and will follow up next week; We'll weigh our options and get back to you on Tuesday.

Can I use it for personal decisions?

Yes. Example: I'm weighing my options for summer travel.

Common mistakes to avoid?

Don't add a preposition after weigh. Avoid saying weigh on the options. Keep it simple: weigh the options.

Is weigh in the same as weigh the options?

No. Weigh in means to share your opinion. Weigh the options means to compare choices before deciding.

Weigh the Options: Business English Meaning, Examples, and Quiz

Q: What does weigh the options mean?

It means to look at your choices carefully and compare them before you decide.

Erin West
Sep 23, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Sep 24, 2025

Businesswoman holding out her hands as if balancing choices, with text “Weigh the Options” showing examples like “New job offer” and “Vacation in Hawaii” – Business English idiom meaning with examples from RealBusinessEnglish.com

Some choices at work take time. Before making a decision, managers and employees often stop to compare the pros and cons. In Business English, this is called weighing the options.

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In this article, you’ll learn what "weigh the options" means, see how it’s used in real business situations, and test yourself with a short quiz.

What does "weigh the options" mean in Business English?

weigh the options

verb phrase, informal–neutral

to think carefully about different choices, compare pros and cons, and decide what is best

Examples of "weigh the options" in action

1. In a pricing meeting

Let’s weigh the options before we lock in a new price.

2. In a project update

We’re still weighing the options for the new platform and expect to decide by next week.

3. In a boardroom discussion

Before we commit to opening another office, let’s weigh the options around cost, talent pool, and long-term risk.

4. In everyday life

I’m weighing my options — lease or buy.

5. In an email

We’re still weighing the options internally, but I’ll follow up once we have a clear direction.

Dialogue Example

Two colleagues are preparing for a client call.

Jamal:	Erin, the client wants to know if we can deliver this in two weeks.
Erin:	That’s a really tight window. Let’s weigh our options and see what’s doable.
Jamal:	Well, one option is to ship a basic version now and add features later. Another is to push the launch date.
Erin:	I’d go with the first option. At least the client gets something on time, and we can build on it later.

Try it yourself

Imagine you’re in a meeting where someone suggests:

Switching to a brand-new platform this month.
Hiring two contractors to speed up QA.

How would you use "weigh the options" to respond politely?

Scroll down to read and listen to the example answers.

Related Business English expressions

Business professional in a meeting room looking thoughtful, symbolizing decision-making and Business English expressions like weigh the options, make the call, and think it through.

These phrases are often used around decision-making. They don’t mean exactly the same thing as "weigh the options", but you’ll hear them a lot in meetings and emails.

the pros and cons

idiom, neutral

the advantages and disadvantages of something

Let’s list the pros and cons of a Friday release.
Before we commit to remote work full-time, we should weigh the pros and cons.

think (something) through

phrasal verb, neutral-informal

to consider something carefully from start to finish

I need to think this through and get back to you tomorrow.
We didn’t think it through, and the rollout confused customers.

make the call

idiom, informal

to make the final decision

After hours of discussion, the manager finally made the call to postpone the release.
We don’t have all the information, but we still need to make the call today.

take under advisement

phrase, formal

to consider something carefully before deciding

Thank you for your feedback. We’ll take it under advisement and discuss it at the next board meeting.
The panel will take your proposal under advisement before announcing the finalists.

keep our options open

phrase, neutral-informal

to avoid deciding too early, so other choices stay possible

Let’s keep our options open until we see the results of the pilot project.
We should keep our options open in case negotiations with this vendor don’t work out.

Person sits at desk using a computer. Text: "Monitor. Filter. Control. Know everything they do on the PC and Internet!" Blue background.

Try it yourself: ANSWER KEY + AUDIO

1. Let’s weigh our options before jumping to a new platform. We should look at cost, timing, and risk first, then decide.

2. That could work. Let’s weigh the options — hire contractors or cut scope — and then run it by leadership tomorrow.

Download the PDF to practice the latest phrases from our Business English Phrasebook.

Business English Phrasebook PDF titled “Weigh the Options: Meaning, Examples, and Quiz.” Includes five expressions (take ownership, cut to the chase, double down, tough sell, weigh all the options) with definitions, fill-in-the-blank exercises, and a short writing task.

Ready for more practice? Check out this Vocabulary Challenge on phrasal verbs.