1
: chosen from a number or group by fitness or preference
2
3
: judicious or restrictive in choice : discriminating
pleased with the select appreciation of his books—
Osbert Sitwell
Osbert Sitwell
selected; selecting; selects
: to choose (as by fitness or excellence) from a number or group : pick out
: to make a choice
: one that is select
—often used in plural
Synonyms
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 WebNicola Fumo, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
Read more Keep scrolling Caitlin Clark may join select group of WNBA players with signature shoes.
—USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024
Those making select purchases at White Castle or buying sliders at the grocery store will get codes to receive the movie.
—The Indianapolis Star, 19 Apr. 2024
The drink will be available in Florida online and in select retailers in the next few weeks.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2024
Instead, a select group of fortunate graduates are securing the equivalent of six-figure salaries straight out of college.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 18 Apr. 2024
As part of the deal, Medium Rare will partner on select events and festivals within the Palm Tree Crew holding company.
—Chris Eggertsen, Billboard, 18 Apr. 2024
For now, AirPlay is currently only supported in select IHG hotels — such as the Holiday Inn, Candlewood Suites, and Avid Hotels — in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
—Emma Roth, The Verge, 18 Apr. 2024
Travelon Anti-theft Classic Sling Bag $80 $40 Amazon has this popular travel sling on sale for up to half off right now in select colors.
—Kristy Alpert, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2024
Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2024
The first of the trials is now underway in New York, where the last of 12 jurors were selected Thursday.
—David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024
After four days jurors have been selected to decide his fate.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 20 Apr. 2024
Before Trump selected him to be RNC chair, Whatley worked on election integrity initiatives as the chair of the North Carolina Republican Party.
—Olivia Rinaldi, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2024
The film participated in Guadalajara’s Co-production Meeting and was selected at Venice Biennale College Cinema and EAVE Puentes, the Europe-Latin America film development workshop backed by the E.U. Media Program.
—Holly Jones, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024
It is believed to be in the final stages of selecting a new music director to replace maestro Christopher-Warren Green, who stepped down in May 2022.
—Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 18 Apr. 2024
Only once your claims have been approved will the team collaborate closely with you to select the most suitable product and colors that cater to your needs.
—Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Sometimes my friends are trolling each other — choosing a song that strongly suggests another player selected it, for instance — and that’s pretty fun, too.
—Elizabeth Lopatto, The Verge, 18 Apr. 2024
Dhruv Tikekar, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
For a shade that casts a peachy glow by day and offers a warm-fuzzy neutral at night, try this shade, tastemaker Melissa Smrekar's select for the living room of her 1930s Dallas cottage.
—Grace Haynes, Southern Living, 20 Mar. 2024
These statement-making selects either have a striking metallic hue or sparkly finish to add a little flair to pretty much any outfit.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Feb. 2024
The team member loaded our selects into an iPad before leaving the room.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2024
Albeit a game for the economic select who can shell out for $1,800 Lay’s potato-chip clutches, $4,800 padded bathrobes, $1,780 trash-bag purses made of calfskin, or 95-cent Ikea bags transformed into $2,000 totes.
—Nathan Taylor Pemberton, Rolling Stone, 20 Jan. 2024
Elsewhere, in the collection, there were selects that were comprised of excellent corsets with intricate ribbon additions.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 9 Sep. 2023
Chicken Selects In 2004, McDonald’s released their chicken selects.
—Sam Burros, Peoplemag, 30 July 2023
The range also features office-ready suiting selects—there’s also an exquisite gown with knit detailing.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 12 Sep. 2023
Adjective
Nordstrom Has Select Spring-Ready Shoes for 30% Off — but Not for Long
Spruce up your spring shoe rotation with 30 percent off select sneakers, sandals, and flats at Nordstrom.
—Nicola Fumo, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
Read more Keep scrolling Caitlin Clark may join select group of WNBA players with signature shoes.
—USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024
Those making select purchases at White Castle or buying sliders at the grocery store will get codes to receive the movie.
—The Indianapolis Star, 19 Apr. 2024
The drink will be available in Florida online and in select retailers in the next few weeks.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2024
Instead, a select group of fortunate graduates are securing the equivalent of six-figure salaries straight out of college.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 18 Apr. 2024
As part of the deal, Medium Rare will partner on select events and festivals within the Palm Tree Crew holding company.
—Chris Eggertsen, Billboard, 18 Apr. 2024
For now, AirPlay is currently only supported in select IHG hotels — such as the Holiday Inn, Candlewood Suites, and Avid Hotels — in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
—Emma Roth, The Verge, 18 Apr. 2024
Travelon Anti-theft Classic Sling Bag $80 $40 Amazon has this popular travel sling on sale for up to half off right now in select colors.
—Kristy Alpert, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2024
Verb
They had been selected as prospective jurors in the People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump—the first-ever criminal trial of an American President.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2024
The first of the trials is now underway in New York, where the last of 12 jurors were selected Thursday.
—David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024
After four days jurors have been selected to decide his fate.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 20 Apr. 2024
Before Trump selected him to be RNC chair, Whatley worked on election integrity initiatives as the chair of the North Carolina Republican Party.
—Olivia Rinaldi, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2024
The film participated in Guadalajara’s Co-production Meeting and was selected at Venice Biennale College Cinema and EAVE Puentes, the Europe-Latin America film development workshop backed by the E.U. Media Program.
—Holly Jones, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024
It is believed to be in the final stages of selecting a new music director to replace maestro Christopher-Warren Green, who stepped down in May 2022.
—Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 18 Apr. 2024
Only once your claims have been approved will the team collaborate closely with you to select the most suitable product and colors that cater to your needs.
—Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Sometimes my friends are trolling each other — choosing a song that strongly suggests another player selected it, for instance — and that’s pretty fun, too.
—Elizabeth Lopatto, The Verge, 18 Apr. 2024
Noun
Last month, an annual review published by the New Zealand Parliament’s environment select committee revealed the price of the mission to catch that stoat: nearly half a million New Zealand dollars (about $300,000).
—Dhruv Tikekar, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
For a shade that casts a peachy glow by day and offers a warm-fuzzy neutral at night, try this shade, tastemaker Melissa Smrekar's select for the living room of her 1930s Dallas cottage.
—Grace Haynes, Southern Living, 20 Mar. 2024
These statement-making selects either have a striking metallic hue or sparkly finish to add a little flair to pretty much any outfit.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Feb. 2024
The team member loaded our selects into an iPad before leaving the room.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2024
Albeit a game for the economic select who can shell out for $1,800 Lay’s potato-chip clutches, $4,800 padded bathrobes, $1,780 trash-bag purses made of calfskin, or 95-cent Ikea bags transformed into $2,000 totes.
—Nathan Taylor Pemberton, Rolling Stone, 20 Jan. 2024
Elsewhere, in the collection, there were selects that were comprised of excellent corsets with intricate ribbon additions.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 9 Sep. 2023
Chicken Selects In 2004, McDonald’s released their chicken selects.
—Sam Burros, Peoplemag, 30 July 2023
The range also features office-ready suiting selects—there’s also an exquisite gown with knit detailing.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 12 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'select.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near select
Cite this Entry
“Select.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/select. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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
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