elect 1 of 3

verb

Definition of electnext
as in to choose
to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities I've elected to study French as my foreign language

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

elect

2 of 3

adjective

i-ˈlekt How to pronounce elect (audio)
as in select
singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking this elect body of students represents the best that the nation's high schools have to offer

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elect

3 of 3

noun

as in best
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class the members of this all-American team are the elect of collegiate football

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of elect
Verb
Fetterman, who's currently serving his first term after being elected in 2022, sharply criticized ex-aides in a statement to CNN. — Jay Stahl, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026 Democrats are especially enthusiastic about Iowa, which hasn’t elected a Democratic governor in 20 years. — Steven Sloan, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
Adjective
The National Rifle Association’s board of directors voted Monday to re-elect longtime CEO Wayne LaPierre, signaling that the gun rights group isn’t changing direction despite a rise in mass shootings and its own internal turmoil. — David Ingram, NBC News, 30 May 2022 The illusion of complete normality could prompt people to spend more and re-elect current politicians for office. — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 9 Apr. 2022
Noun
But his situation is actually fairly complicated, in part because of how the Hall of Fame elects candidates. — James Mirtle, New York Times, 17 June 2026 The Spurs elect to not have a defender impede his vision, using all five of their players to guard the four who were moving about for New York. — ABC News, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for elect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elect
  1. choose
  2. select
  3. best
  4. pick
  5. selected
  6. aristocracy
  7. preferred
  8. elite
Verb
  • After taking a short corner and getting the ball back, Savio turned down a chance to cross and chose to chop instead.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Give that interest something concrete, such as researching a course, comparing destinations, or choosing a date.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of choose
Adjective
  • The Big Ten added live audio and video from its replay review command center this season, but only for select Friday games.
    — Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Daniel West’s adaptation hits the major plot points and select lines of dialogue, but has typically, unavoidably, been streamlined and compressed.
    — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of select
Noun
  • Benton had career bests in tackles (51), tackles for loss (6) and sacks (5 1/2) while helping the Steelers to the AFC North title.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • With the three-row Kia Sorento, the Hyundai Palisade retains the South Korean brands’ 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, both segment and industry bests.
    — James Raia, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of best
Verb
  • By halftime, Clemson had as many first downs (1) as starting quarterback Christopher Vizzina had pick sixes.
    — Manny Navarro, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • While voters elsewhere have embraced a decidedly anti-establishment sentiment this campaign season, New Hampshire Republican voters appear content with their choices and are poised to pick a familiar name over a fresh face on Tuesday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of pick
Adjective
  • Some cool features include a kill switch that automatically disconnects you from the internet if the VPN connection fails, as well as split tunneling that allows selected apps to use the VPN connection while others transmit data in clear text.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 June 2026
  • These pre-selected fighter pilots and their families moved into their apartments during the summer of 1960 after residing at the Frunze Central Airfield in Moscow.
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 27 May 2026
Definition of selected
Noun
  • After this, there will be a lot of going back and forth across the Channel; crimes of the aristocracy; Darnay’s own Big Secret revealed; more trials, more imprisonments.
    — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Just a few days earlier at Palazzo Brancaccio, the ladies of the Roman aristocracy had vied to appear in the ballroom scenes, perhaps hoping to meet Gregory Peck.
    — Daria Egidi, Vanity Fair, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of aristocracy
Adjective
  • And while the Heat do have an open roster spot, the preferred path for any upgrade at this point likely would be on ready-to-go talent, not necessarily a player who may or may not still have it.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Maresca has also probably muddied the waters by refusing to identify a preferred holding midfielder and describing both new players in similar terms.
    — Sam Lee, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of preferred
Noun
  • Swift was born into the Anglo-Irish Protestant elite, and the text satires both the callousness of his class and a then-ascendant approach to morality and politics that held that all aspects of life could be cooked down to a pure numerical value.
    — Dónal Gill, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026
  • But as breathing slows in parts of Iran’s economy, ample oxygen will remain for the country’s elite.
    — Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of elite

Browse Nearby Words

elder statesmen
elect
elected
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Cite this Entry

“Elect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elect. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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