Synonyms

select

American

[si-lekt] / sɪˈlɛkt /

verb (used with object)

to choose in preference to another or others; pick out.

verb (used without object)

to make a choice; pick.

adjective

chosen in preference to another or others; selected.
of special value or excellence; choice.
careful or fastidious in selecting; discriminating.
carefully or fastidiously chosen; exclusive.

a select group of friends.

select British

/ sɪˈlɛkt /

verb

to choose (someone or something) in preference to another or others

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

Also: selected. chosen in preference to another or others
of particular quality or excellence
limited as to membership or entry

a select gathering
careful in making a choice

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See choose.

Other Word Forms

nonselected adjective
reselect verb (used with object)
selectability noun
selectable adjective
selectly adverb
selectness noun
selector noun
unselect adjective
unselected adjective
well-selected adjective

Etymology

Origin of select

First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin sēlēctus (past participle of sēligere “to gather apart”), equivalent to sē- “apart” + leg(ere) “to gather, choose” + -tus past participle suffix; lection ( def. ), se-

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.

“We’re aware of an issue with Admins impacting selected stores, and are working to resolve it,” the web hosting company posted on X.

From The Wall Street Journal

The film has been selected by France as its official nomination for the Academy Awards, and is widely expected to make the shortlist for the Best International Feature at the gala event in March.

From Barron's

Since the Vikings selected him with the No. 10 pick in 2024, McCarthy has been injury prone and has struggled even worse when he has actually been on the field.

From The Wall Street Journal

Nearly 30 inmates, selected for good behavior, donned tuxedos with pink boutonnieres and waited as daughters, some dressed in formal gowns, were led into the prison’s Bible college transformed into a makeshift dance hall.

From Salon

In a letter to the Commons Treasury select committee, OBR chairman Richard Hughes revealed that he also told the chancellor on 17 September that the public finances were in better shape than widely thought.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023