select
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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.
verb
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
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.
He was voted players' player of the year by his Leeds team-mates and was selected in the Championship team of the year as the Whites earned automatic promotion.
From BBC
Victor Glover is a former US Navy fighter pilot and test pilot who was selected as a Nasa astronaut in 2013.
From BBC
The results indicated neither child was related to the sperm donor their parents had selected.
From BBC
The rez had no accommodations, so a lot of people selected the camping area.
From Literature
The proposed rule establishes a set of “safe harbors” for plan fiduciaries, who have a duty to act in the best financial interest of their clients, to use when selecting investment alternatives.
From MarketWatch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
