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.
The Film Heritage Foundation, which initiated its restoration, will also release the film in select theatres across India in March, pricing tickets low to attract younger viewers.
From BBC
Paul was selected fourth overall by the New Orleans Hornets in the 2005 draft and was named the NBA’s rookie of the year the following season.
From Los Angeles Times
In the same article, he quoted analysts at Barclays who recommended this combined approach with loading up on stocks of AI winners, along with a select group of software companies.
From MarketWatch
However in 2022 she was selected out of 22,000 candidates, and embarked on three years of intense training to get ready for Friday's launch.
From Barron's
She and her supporters insisted she had been selected exactly for this moment, because she was the right person to lead the Coalition through it.
From BBC
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.
