select

1 of 3

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 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

Synonyms

Adjective

• cherry-picked
• choice
• chosen
• elect
• favored
• favorite
• first-line
• handpicked
• picked
• preferred
• selected

Verb

• cherry-pick
• choose
• cull
• elect
• handpick
• name
• opt (for)
• pick
• prefer
• single (out)
• tag
• take

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

Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge. —Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2025

Shortly after, a select number were removed by Trump. —Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025

Verb

When humans purposely select for or against certain features in other organisms like this, it's known as artificial selection. —Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2025

By Audrey Noble May 2, 2025 All products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors. —Audrey Noble, Vogue, 2 May 2025

Noun

The whole physician-training process is designed to select for folks who have high intellectual capability, much like the world of professional sports selects for the athletically gifted. —Leon E. Moores, Md, Dsc, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025

Granted, the offensive line’s competence will dictate a lot of how much success any running back the Cowboys select will have. —Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025

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

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