select

1 of 4

adjective

se·​lect sə-ˈlekt 

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 books …

—Osbert Sitwell

selectable

sə-ˈlek-tə-bəl 

adjective

selectness

sə-ˈlek(t)-nəs 

noun

selector

sə-ˈlek-tər 

noun

select

2 of 4

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 4

noun (1)

: one that is select

—often used in plural

selector

4 of 4

noun (2)

se·​lec·​tor -ktə(r) 

plural -s

: one that selects: such as

a

: a person who selects

selector of All-American teams

—Current Biography

the selector … knows good-looking merchandise

—Women's Wear Daily

edited by an expert librarian selector

—Saturday Review

b(1)

: a person who selects Australian public land to settle on

(2)

: a small farmer of Australia

c

: a mechanical or electrical device for automatically selecting predetermined shapes, sizes, or materials or chosen or actuated for starting or stopping (as an elevator)

d(1)

: the element in a transmission gearshift of an automotive vehicle that is guided by the gearshift lever so that the desired gearshift bar is actuated

(2)

: the lever in an automatic gearshift operated by the driver to select the desired speed

e

: a converter with horizontal tuyeres to produce bottoms and a purified copper in one operation

f

: an electric switch mechanism designed to move over a number of terminals and to select a particular one or group in accordance with the signal received

g

: station selector

h

: an apparatus for operating either or any of two or more railroad signals by a single lever so as automatically to connect the particular signal controlling the route or track for which a switch has been set

Synonyms of select

Adjective

• selected
• preferred
• favorite

Verb

• choose
• pick

Examples of select in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The couple, who identified themselves on social media, are among the select few known to have climbed the skyscraper — especially its spire — both in real life and in popular culture. — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 2 July 2026

Students in a select number of professional degree programs can borrow up to $50,000 annually, with a $200,000 lifetime aggregate limit. — Dan Avery, CNBC, 1 July 2026

Verb

After learning that her friend Shannon’s mother has died in a car accident, Elle is suddenly facing her first real encounter with grief and, unable to sit with it, throws herself into planning the memorial, down to selecting the music. — Angelina Mazza, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026

But Charania reported that the Celtics kept seeing what was out there for Brown, whom Boston selected with the third overall choice in the 2016 draft. — Tim Casey, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Noun

There’s still 8 more hours to submit your selects for Movie Night. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 28 June 2026

Sofi’s selects 💷Two best friends working for the Wyandotte County District Court stole almost $1 million in public funds. — Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 23 June 2026

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

Noun (2)

Late Latin, from Latin selectus (past participle of seligere to select) + -or

First Known Use

Adjective

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1566, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (1)

1610, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing select

• self-select

Rhymes for select

• affect
• aspect
• bedecked
• bisect
• collect
• connect
• correct
• deflect
• detect
• direct
• dissect
• effect

Kids Definition

select

1 of 2 verb

se·​lect sə-ˈlekt 

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 

: 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