1
: chosen from a number or group by fitness or preference
2
3
: judicious or restrictive in choice : discriminating
pleased with the select appreciation of his books—
Osbert Sitwell
Osbert Sitwell
selected; selecting; selects
: to choose (as by fitness or excellence) from a number or group : pick out
: to make a choice
: one that is select
—often used in plural
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Adjective
Only a few select employees attended the meeting.
A select committee was formed to plan the project.
The group was small and select.
A select number of people are invited.
Only a select few will be accepted into the program.
He only drinks select wines.
Verb
Please select one item from the list.
The school will only select 12 applicants for enrollment.
Knowing the importance of making the right choice, he selected carefully.
Select “Insert” from the “Edit” menu.
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Recent Examples on the WebKevin Freking, Fortune, 17 May 2023
The Baltimore County Board of Education includes one student member, who has been able to cast their vote on select agenda items.
—Sabrina Leboeuf, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2023
Teen accounts, announced during the company's annual product showcase, will be available in select cities in the U.S. and Canada starting on May 22, the company said.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 17 May 2023
Weibao Wang was among a select few workers with access to the tech giant’s secretive autonomous-driving project, but later secretly began working for the U.S.-based subsidiary of a Chinese company, prosecutors allege.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2023
Steam is offering gamers the opportunity to play a game before deciding to spend any money through a new free trial option on select titles.
—Matthew Humphries, PCMAG, 17 May 2023
General manager Steve Yzerman could package select picks into a trade for a player who could help the Wings in the present.
—Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press, 9 May 2023
Related Soon, the collection will be sold through select boutiques and retailers.
—Gabrielle Pharms, Billboard, 5 May 2023
These select athletes will have the opportunity to hone their on-field skills and earn a coveted bid to the 2024 Under Armour Next All-America Game or UA Next Future 50 Camp.
—James Weber, The Enquirer, 4 May 2023
Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 May 2023
When selecting and testing for a pair of shorts that can match this level of movement, our Fashion Director Ted Stafford noted this option's lightweight but extremely stretchy fabric that moved with the thighs.
—Maverick Li, menshealth.com, 17 May 2023
The warnings echo wider fears within the industry that the British car sector does not have the capacity or the supply chain to switch to electric vehicles, a huge risk at a time when carmakers globally are selecting sites to build new battery gigafactories.
—Reuters, CNN, 17 May 2023
Philadelphia Democrats on Tuesday selected Cherelle Parker to be their party's mayoral nominee, the Associated Press has declared.
—Caroline Linton, CBS News, 16 May 2023
The lottery will determine which of the 14 teams participating will be awarded the top pick in the 2023 NBA draft, presumably to select Wembanyama.
—oregonlive, 16 May 2023
The five new Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute teams were selected via peer review from a pool of 14 competitive proposals, NASA said.
—Carlos R. Muñoz, BostonGlobe.com, 16 May 2023
Tribune picks Biggs: Bears Kane: Bears Wiederer: Cardinals Week 17: Bears vs. Atlanta Falcons Sunday, Dec. 31, noon, Fox-32 Is a running back ever worthy of being selected in the top 10 in the modern NFL?
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2023
Veteran’s Crisis Line: 988, then select 1, or text: 838255.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 12 May 2023
Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 11 May 2023
The monthly membership plan a gymgoer selects will determine what additional perks, such as 3D body scans, hot yoga and guest privileges, the client can receive monthly.
—Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 10 May 2023
Who did the four-chair-turn select?
—Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY, 27 Oct. 2020
Ahead are our top selects that will look fresh even after long-haul flights and multi-city tours.
—Amy Louise Bailey, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2023
After the Los Angeles Gladiators (11-10) and Atlanta Reign (10-11) select, the Fuel will know their opponents.
—Sean Collins, Dallas News, 25 Aug. 2020
Jones was a Pro Bowl select in 2018 and signed a five-year deal with the Miami Dolphins worth $82 million in 2020.
—Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2023
Layla, what [00:23:00] was the bad news for Larry Householder that came out yesterday As jury select or no jury selection begins today.
—Laura Johnston, cleveland, 20 Jan. 2023
These are among the select but slowly growing list of Americans living under a strange penalty, that has proved a source of pride, bafflement, and in some cases, consternation: Russian sanctions.
—Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2023
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Adjective
President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy are turning to a select group of negotiators to help work out a deal to increase the nation’s borrowing authority and avoid the economic carnage that could ensue if the U.S. defaults on its debts.
—Kevin Freking, Fortune, 17 May 2023
The Baltimore County Board of Education includes one student member, who has been able to cast their vote on select agenda items.
—Sabrina Leboeuf, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2023
Teen accounts, announced during the company's annual product showcase, will be available in select cities in the U.S. and Canada starting on May 22, the company said.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 17 May 2023
Weibao Wang was among a select few workers with access to the tech giant’s secretive autonomous-driving project, but later secretly began working for the U.S.-based subsidiary of a Chinese company, prosecutors allege.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2023
Steam is offering gamers the opportunity to play a game before deciding to spend any money through a new free trial option on select titles.
—Matthew Humphries, PCMAG, 17 May 2023
General manager Steve Yzerman could package select picks into a trade for a player who could help the Wings in the present.
—Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press, 9 May 2023
Related Soon, the collection will be sold through select boutiques and retailers.
—Gabrielle Pharms, Billboard, 5 May 2023
These select athletes will have the opportunity to hone their on-field skills and earn a coveted bid to the 2024 Under Armour Next All-America Game or UA Next Future 50 Camp.
—James Weber, The Enquirer, 4 May 2023
Verb
What is the process like of selecting jewelry here?
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 May 2023
When selecting and testing for a pair of shorts that can match this level of movement, our Fashion Director Ted Stafford noted this option's lightweight but extremely stretchy fabric that moved with the thighs.
—Maverick Li, menshealth.com, 17 May 2023
The warnings echo wider fears within the industry that the British car sector does not have the capacity or the supply chain to switch to electric vehicles, a huge risk at a time when carmakers globally are selecting sites to build new battery gigafactories.
—Reuters, CNN, 17 May 2023
Philadelphia Democrats on Tuesday selected Cherelle Parker to be their party's mayoral nominee, the Associated Press has declared.
—Caroline Linton, CBS News, 16 May 2023
The lottery will determine which of the 14 teams participating will be awarded the top pick in the 2023 NBA draft, presumably to select Wembanyama.
—oregonlive, 16 May 2023
The five new Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute teams were selected via peer review from a pool of 14 competitive proposals, NASA said.
—Carlos R. Muñoz, BostonGlobe.com, 16 May 2023
Tribune picks Biggs: Bears Kane: Bears Wiederer: Cardinals Week 17: Bears vs. Atlanta Falcons Sunday, Dec. 31, noon, Fox-32 Is a running back ever worthy of being selected in the top 10 in the modern NFL?
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2023
Veteran’s Crisis Line: 988, then select 1, or text: 838255.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 12 May 2023
Noun
While Saman Amel is known for its handcrafted bespoke tailoring, the brand’s 17-piece edit for Matches is just as special, with most selects crafted from luxe silk, cashmere, wool, and linen materials that effortlessly evoke the feeling summers spent on the coast of Italy.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 11 May 2023
The monthly membership plan a gymgoer selects will determine what additional perks, such as 3D body scans, hot yoga and guest privileges, the client can receive monthly.
—Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 10 May 2023
Who did the four-chair-turn select?
—Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY, 27 Oct. 2020
Ahead are our top selects that will look fresh even after long-haul flights and multi-city tours.
—Amy Louise Bailey, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2023
After the Los Angeles Gladiators (11-10) and Atlanta Reign (10-11) select, the Fuel will know their opponents.
—Sean Collins, Dallas News, 25 Aug. 2020
Jones was a Pro Bowl select in 2018 and signed a five-year deal with the Miami Dolphins worth $82 million in 2020.
—Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2023
Layla, what [00:23:00] was the bad news for Larry Householder that came out yesterday As jury select or no jury selection begins today.
—Laura Johnston, cleveland, 20 Jan. 2023
These are among the select but slowly growing list of Americans living under a strange penalty, that has proved a source of pride, bafflement, and in some cases, consternation: Russian sanctions.
—Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'select.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Latin selectus, past participle of seligere to select, from se- apart (from sed, se without) + legere to gather, select — more at suicide, legend
First Known Use
Adjective
circa 1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1566, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Noun
1610, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing select
Dictionary Entries Near select
Cite this Entry
“Select.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/select. Accessed 3 Jun. 2023.
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Kids Definition
Medical Definition
select
intransitive verb
se·lect
sə-ˈlekt 
: to cause a specified gene, trait, or organism to become more frequent or less frequent
—usually used with for or against
animal breeders need to select simultaneously for improved conformity to breed characteristics and against defective genes causing disease
More from Merriam-Webster on select
Nglish: Translation of select for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of select for Arabic Speakers
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