Choose

to select from a number of possibilities; pick by preference:
She chose Sunday for her departure.
to prefer or decide (to do something):
He chose to run for election.
to want; desire:
I choose moving to the city.
(especially in children’s games) to contend with (an opponent) to decide, as by odd or even, who will do something:
I’ll choose you to see who gets to bat first.
to make a choice, or select from two or more possibilities:
Accepted by several colleges, the boy chose carefully.
to be inclined:
You may stay here, if you choose.
(especially in children’s games) to decide, as by means of odd or even, who will do something:
Let’s choose to see who bats first.
choose up,

to select (players) for a contest or game:
The kids chose up sides for the game.
to select players for a contest or game:
We have to choose up before we can play.

cannot choose but, cannot do otherwise than; is or are obliged to:
He cannot choose but obey.
Contemporary Examples

Comey: Principled or Self-Righteous? Daniel Klaidman May 29, 2013
Do Democrats Really Want to Make Guns a Litmus Test Issue? Justin Green April 23, 2013
How Do You Want to Make a Difference? Daily Beast Promotions March 24, 2010
Obama Needs a New Tune Jeff Shesol August 21, 2011
Napa Valley Wine Train, Hiram Bingham, More Incredible Train Journeys Leigh Crandall April 25, 2012

Historical Examples

The Traitors E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim
United States Presidents’ Inaugural Speeches Various
Frank Merriwell’s Bravery Burt L. Standish
United States Presidents’ Inaugural Speeches Various
The National Cook Book, 9th ed. Hannah Mary Peterson

verb chooses, choosing, chose, chosen
to select (a person, thing, course of action, etc) from a number of alternatives
(transitive; takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to consider it desirable or proper: I don’t choose to read that book
(intransitive) to like; please: you may stand if you choose
cannot choose but, to be obliged to: we cannot choose but vote for him
nothing to choose between, little to choose between, (of two people or objects) almost equal
v.
In addition to the idiom beginning with
choose