Synonyms of elect

elect 1 of 3

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• choose
• select
• pick
• take
• prefer
• designate
• name
• nominate
• single (out)
• cull
• handpick
• opt (for)
• appoint
• tag
• cherry-pick
• accept
• adopt
• preselect
• tap
• embrace
• espouse
• set
• tab
• mark
• settle (on or upon)
• fix

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• refuse
• reject
• decline
• turn down
• repudiate
• disapprove
• negative
• discard
• spurn
• throw away
• throw out
• jettison

elect

2 of 3

adjective

i-ˈlekt 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• select
• selected
• preferred
• favorite
• chosen
• favored
• picked
• handpicked
• choice
• of choice
• first-line
• cherry-picked
• fashionable
• exclusive
• screened
• culled
• weeded (out)
• picked over
• winnowed (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ordinary
• average
• common
• commonplace
• run-of-the-mill

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• best
• aristocracy
• elite
• priesthood
• choice
• society
• top
• pick
• upper crust
• flower
• prime
• cream of the crop
• royalty
• cream
• Hall of Fame
• A-list
• crème de la crème
• pride
• fat
• pink
• corps d'elite
• illuminati
• establishment
• upper class
• nobility
• quality
• top drawer
• gentry
• caviar
• who's who

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• masses
• millions
• multitude
• herd
• mob
• commoners
• rank and file
• unwashed
• hoi polloi

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of elect

Verb

The day before his successor as California’s governor is elected in the high stakes midterms, Gavin Newsom is going out with a bang. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2026

Because the Rams closed the half by charging 66 yards to score a touchdown on a five-play, 1-minute, 36-second drive immediately after the Chargers had elected to kick a field goal rather than go for it on fourth and two. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 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

The Reverend Jeff Hood, who has served as a spiritual adviser to inmates on death row in Texas, has urged the state’s Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa to do everything in her power to halt executions in the state. — Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2026

Democrat Gina Hinojosa is now the governor-elect and her state House colleague Vikki Goodwin won her bid for lieutenant governor, giving the party control of Texas’ top two executive offices. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Nov. 2026