select

1 of 3

adjective

se·​lect sə-ˈlekt How to pronounce select (audio)
1
: chosen from a number or group by fitness or preference
2
a
: of special value or excellence : superior, choice
b
: exclusively or fastidiously chosen often with regard to social, economic, or cultural characteristics
3
: judicious or restrictive in choice : discriminating
pleased with the select appreciation of his booksOsbert Sitwell
selectable adjective
selectness noun
selector noun

select

2 of 3

verb

selected; selecting; selects

transitive verb

: to choose (as by fitness or excellence) from a number or group : pick out

intransitive verb

: to make a choice

select

3 of 3

noun

: one that is select
often used in plural

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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
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 See More

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of select was circa 1555

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.

Kids Definition

select

1 of 2 verb
se·​lect sə-ˈlekt How to pronounce select (audio)
1
: to pick out from a number or group : choose
2
: to choose (a particular action or a section of text on a computer screen) especially using a mouse

select

2 of 2 adjective
1
: chosen from a number or group to include the best or most suitable individuals
invited only a few select employees
2
: of special value or excellence : superior, choice
a select hotel

Medical Definition

select

intransitive verb
se·​lect sə-ˈlekt How to pronounce select (audio)
: 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!