elect

[ ih-lekt ]

/ ɪˈlɛkt /

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See synonyms for elect on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to choose or select by vote, as for an office: to elect a mayor.

to determine in favor of (a method, course of action, etc.).

to pick out; choose: First-year students may elect French, Spanish, or German.

Theology. (of God) to select for divine mercy or favor, especially for salvation.

verb (used without object)

to choose or select someone or something, as by voting.

adjective

selected, as for an office, but not yet inducted (usually used in combination following a noun): the governor-elect.

select or choice: an elect circle of artists.

Theology. chosen by God, especially for eternal life.

noun the elect,

a person or the persons chosen or worthy to be chosen.

Theology. a person or persons chosen by God, especially for favor or salvation.

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of elect

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Latin ēlēctus “chosen” (past participle of ēligere ), equivalent to ē- “out of, from” + leg- “choose” + -tus past participle suffix; see e-¹, elite

synonym study for elect

3. See choose.

OTHER WORDS FROM elect

e·lec·tee

[ih-lek-tee], /ɪ lɛkˈti/, nounnon·e·lect, nounpre·e·lect, verb (used with object)re·e·lect, verb (used with object)

Other definitions for elect (2 of 2)

elect.

or elec

abbreviation

electric.

electrical.

electrician.

electricity.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use elect in a sentence

The governor-elect, Attorney General Greg Abbott, accepted more than $6.8 million.
Two Texas Regulators Tried to Enforce the Rules. They Were Fired.|David Hasemyer, InsideClimate News|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And Montana and South Dakota are basically red, of course, but are both elect Democrats sometimes.
Dems, It’s Time to Dump Dixie|Michael Tomasky|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Black Republican members-elect include Mia Love of Utah and Will Hurd of Texas.
The Republican Rainbow Coalition Is Real|Tim Mak|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In Georgia, Senator-elect David Perdue likewise garnered more than 40 percent of the Latino vote.
How Democrats Can Recover|Will Marshall|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In a large society, there is just no way, no theoretical way, to choose, to elect, normal people.
Is It Time to Take a Chance on Random Representatives?|Michael Schulson|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The bride elect rushes up to him, and so they both step down to the foot-lights.
Physiology of The Opera|John H. Swaby (AKA "Scrici")
When her marital relation ends she may elect to retain her marital or her original citizenship.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
His Last Week|William E. Barton
Even if you elect to be the leader of fashion in San Francisco, your equipment need not be of unadulterated steel.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
Each of these districts was asked to elect two Burgesses as representatives in their local government.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia|Dorothy M. Torpey

British Dictionary definitions for elect

elect

/ (ɪˈlɛkt) /

verb

(tr) to choose (someone) to be (a representative or a public official) by votingthey elected him Mayor

to select; chooseto elect to die rather than surrender

(tr) (of God) to select or predestine for the grace of salvation

adjective

(immediately postpositive) voted into office but not yet installedthe president elect

chosen or choice; selected or elite
(as collective noun; preceded by the)the elect

Christianity

selected or predestined by God to receive salvation; chosen
(as collective noun; preceded by the)the elect

Derived forms of elect

electable, adjectiveelectability, noun

Word Origin for elect

C15: from Latin ēligere to select, from legere to choose

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

elect

Origin of elect

synonym study for elect

OTHER WORDS FROM elect

Other definitions for elect (2 of 2)

or elec

Words related to elect

How to use elect in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for elect

Derived forms of elect

Word Origin for elect