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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
The experience changed my life and, years later, influenced my decision to enter public service and be elected mayor of Jersey City. — Steven Fulop, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026 But Iowa later pulled out of the project after electing a Republican governor, while Illinois pressed ahead. — Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 11 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
  • Perhaps the next level of success is not doing more but having the courage to choose again.
    — Michelle De Almeida, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Why on earth the Magician would choose an American girl remains unclear.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 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
  • My mother picks me up off the floor, pulling me across the hall, into my bedroom, into bed.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Cellphone camera footage broadcast by CBS Los Angeles shows the snake on a beach at night and someone trying to use what appears to be the base of a palm frond to pick it up and toss it back into the water.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 17 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
  • My grandmother was from Mexican aristocracy, and her passion drove her to ditch her fiancé at the altar to marry my gringo grandad across the border.
    — Griffin Dunne, Vanity Fair, 11 Sep. 2026
  • 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
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
  • Heavier run packages negated Denver’s elite pass rush and unlocked a missing element of Kansas City’s attack.
    — Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • For the first time in a long time, the Chiefs have an elite running back in place.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 15 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 19 Sep. 2026.

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