Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense selects, present participle selecting, past tense, past participle selected
1. verb
If you select something, you choose it from a number of things of the same kind.
Voters are selecting candidates for both U.S. Senate seats and for 52 congressionalseats. [VERB noun]
With a difficult tee shot, select a club which will keep you short of the trouble. [VERB noun]
The movie is being shown in selected cities. [VERB-ed]
[Also V n + for/from]
2. verb
If you select a file or a piece of text on a computer screen, you click on it so that it is marked in a different colour, usually in order for you to give the computer an instruction relating to that file or piece of text.
[computing]
I selected a file and pressed the Delete key. [VERB noun]
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A select group is a small group of some of the best people or things of their kind.
He was one of the small select group assembled by Penney, at the High Explosive Researchcentre.
...a select group of French cheeses.
He will join a select band of quarterbacks to win the Super Bowl three times.
Synonyms: choice, special, prime, picked More Synonyms of select
4. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you describe something as select, you mean it has many desirable features, but is available only to people who have a lot of money or who belong to a high social class.
The couturier is throwing a very lavish and very select party.
...a meeting of a very select club.
Synonyms: exclusive, elite, privileged, limited More Synonyms of select
More Synonyms of select
select in British English
(sɪˈlɛkt)
verb
1.
to choose (someone or something) in preference to another or others
adjective
2. also: selected
chosen in preference to another or others
3.
of particular quality or excellence
4.
limited as to membership or entry
a select gathering
5.
careful in making a choice
Derived forms
selectly (seˈlectly)
adverb
selectness (seˈlectness)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin sēligere to sort, from sē- apart + legere to choose
select in American English
(səˈlɛkt)
adjective
1.
chosen in preference to another or others; picked out, esp. for excellence or some special quality; picked
2.
choice; excellent; outstanding
3.
careful in choosing or selecting; fastidious
4.
limited to certain people or groups; exclusive
verb transitive
5.
to choose or pick out from among others, as for excellence, desirability, etc.
verb intransitive
6.
to make a selection; choose
Derived forms
selectness (seˈlectness)
noun
Word origin
L selectus, pp. of seligere, to choose, pick out < se-, apart + legere, to choose: see logic
Examples of 'select' in a sentence
select
There were spaces available to select me.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Five hundred families will be selected to join the scheme for six months.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Twelve jurors were selected and another twelve have been held in reserve.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Those leading projects would be identified and expected to give evidence to select committees.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He has been courting a select band of senior journalists.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Their chimps can select the right key to answer a question or to ask for something.
Evans, Peter & Deehan, Geoff The Descent of Mind - the how and why of intelligence (1990)
This year he became part of a select group of victims.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The collection includes ranges for women and men and selected homeware pieces.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He is not available to be selected.
The Sun (2015)
They can select another of similar risk and have a similar expected return.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
New legal powers to force witnesses to give evidence to select committees under oath.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They should be in flower by this time next year and the best colours can be selected for planting.
The Sun (2010)
There he showed her the burial plot that he and my grandmother had selected as their final resting place.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It was no surprise that she subsequently joined the select team responsible for training and moderation across the entire examining panel.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The gaffer is also the one who selects the club 's transfer targets.
The Sun (2015)
The computer then automatically selects a low gear ratio, resulting in the same engine braking effect.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
After this comes the final step, the select band.
Christianity Today (2000)
Based on what you see, you should select the correct club to help you play the shot.
Lewis, Beverly Winning Golf for Women (1993)
You take a photograph of your room and it enables you to select a new colour for the walls from a fairly extensive palette.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
select
British English: select /sɪˈlɛkt/ VERB
If you select something, you choose it from a number of things of the same kind.
A panel of judges selected the finalists.
American English: select
Arabic: يَخْتارُ
Brazilian Portuguese: selecionar
Chinese: 选择
Croatian: izabrati
Czech: vybrat
Danish: vælge
Dutch: selecteren
European Spanish: seleccionar
Finnish: valikoida
French: sélectionner
German: auswählen
Greek: επιλέγω
Italian: selezionare
Japanese: 選ぶ
Korean: 선택하다
Norwegian: velge
Polish: wybrać
European Portuguese: selecionar
Romanian: a selecta
Russian: выбирать
Latin American Spanish: seleccionar
Swedish: välja
Thai: เลือก
Turkish: seçmek
Ukrainian: відбирати
Vietnamese: lựa chọn
British English: select ADJECTIVE
A select group is a small group of some of the best people or things of their kind.
...a select group of gourmet cheeses.
American English: select
Brazilian Portuguese: seleto
Chinese: 第一流的
European Spanish: selecto
French: d'élite
German: exklusiv
Italian: scelto
Japanese: 選び抜かれた
Korean: 엄선한
European Portuguese: seleto
Latin American Spanish: selecto
Chinese translation of 'select'
select
(sɪˈlɛkt)
vt
挑选(選) (tiāoxuǎn)
adj
第一流的 (dìyīliú de)
a select group精选(選)的一群 (jīngxuǎn de yī qún)
a select few精选(選)的几(幾)个(個) (jīngxuǎn de jǐ gè)
(verb)
Definition
to choose (someone or something) in preference to another or others
They selected only bright pupils.
Synonyms
choose
I chose him to accompany me on my trip.
take
I'll take the grilled tuna sandwich, please.
pick
He had picked ten people to interview for the jobs.
prefer
Do you prefer a particular sort of music?
opt for
decide on
adopt
He had adopted a new country and a new profession.
single out
fix on
cherry-pick
settle upon
Opposites
reject,
eliminate
,
turn down
1 (adjective)
Definition
chosen in preference to others
a select group of French cheeses
Synonyms
choice
The finest array of choicest foods is to be found within their Food Hall.
special
I usually reserve these outfits for special occasions.
prime
It was one of the City's prime locations.
picked
selected
excellent
We complimented him on doing an excellent job.
rare
superior
He's got a superior car, and it's easy to win races that way.
first-class
posh (informal, mainly British)
first-rate
They were dealing with a first-rate professional.
hand-picked
a hand-picked range of timeless classics
top-notch (informal)
recherché
Opposites
cheap
,
ordinary
,
inferior
,
indifferent
,
second-rate
,
shoddy
,
unremarkable
,
run-of-the-mill
,
substandard
2 (adjective)
Definition
restricted to a particular group
a meeting of a very select club
Synonyms
exclusive
He is a member of Britain's most exclusive club.
elite
the elite troops of the President's bodyguard
privileged
They were a wealthy and privileged elite.
limited
rarefied
the rarefied atmosphere of university
cliquish
Opposites
indiscriminate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adopt
Definition
to choose (a plan or method)
He had adopted a new country and a new profession.
Synonyms
select,
choose,
pick,
nominate,
opt for,
decide on,
single out,
settle on,
cherry-pick
in the sense of elite
the elite troops of the President's bodyguard
Synonyms
leading,
best,
finest,
pick,
choice,
selected,
elect,
crack (slang),
supreme,
exclusive,
privileged,
first-class,
foremost,
first-rate,
pre-eminent,
most excellent
in the sense of excellent
Definition
exceptionally good
We complimented him on doing an excellent job.
Synonyms
outstanding,
good,
great (informal),
fine,
prime,
capital,
noted,
choice,
champion,
cool (informal),
select,
brilliant,
very good,
cracking (British, informal),
crucial (slang),
mean (slang),
superb,
distinguished,
fantastic (informal),
magnificent,
superior,
sterling,
worthy,
first-class,
marvellous,
exceptional,
terrific (informal),
splendid,
notable,
mega (slang),
topping (British, slang),
sovereign,
dope (slang),
sick (slang),
world-class,
exquisite,
admirable,
exemplary,
wicked (slang),
first-rate,
def (slang),
superlative,
top-notch (informal),
brill (informal),
nang (British, slang),
pre-eminent,
meritorious,
estimable,
tiptop,
bodacious (slang, US),
boffo (slang),
the dog's bollocks (taboo, slang),
jim-dandy (slang),
A1 or A-one (informal),
bitchin' (US, slang),
chillin' (US, slang),
booshit (Australian, slang),
exo (Australian, slang),
sik (Australian, slang),
rad (informal),
phat (slang),
schmick (Australian, informal),
beaut (informal),
barrie (Scottish, slang),
belting (British, slang),
pearler (Australian, slang),
bakgat (South Africa)
Synonyms of 'select'
select
Explore 'select' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of first-rate
Definition
of the best quality
They were dealing with a first-rate professional.
Synonyms
excellent,
outstanding,
first class,
exceptional,
mean (slang),
topping (British, slang),
top,
tops (slang),
prime,
cool (informal),
crack (slang),
cracking (British, informal),
crucial (slang),
exclusive,
superb,
mega (slang),
sovereign,
dope (slang),
sick (slang),
world-class,
admirable,
wicked (slang),
def (slang),
superlative,
second to none,
top-notch (informal),
brill (informal),
tiptop,
bodacious (slang, US),
boffo (slang),
the dog's bollocks (taboo, slang),
jim-dandy (slang),
A1 or A-one (informal),
bitchin' (US, slang),
chillin' (US, slang),
booshit (Australian, slang),
exo (Australian, slang),
sik (Australian, slang),
rad (informal),
phat (slang),
schmick (Australian, informal)
in the sense of hand-picked
a hand-picked range of timeless classics
Synonyms
selected,
chosen,
choice,
select,
elect,
elite,
recherché
in the sense of pick
Definition
to choose or select
He had picked ten people to interview for the jobs.
Synonyms
select,
choose,
identify,
elect,
nominate,
sort out,
specify,
opt for,
single out,
mark out,
plump for,
hand-pick,
decide upon,
cherry-pick,
fix upon,
settle on or upon,
sift out,
flag up
in the sense of prefer
Definition
to like better
Do you prefer a particular sort of music?
Synonyms
like better,
favour,
go for,
pick,
select,
adopt,
fancy (British, informal),
opt for,
single out,
plump for,
incline towards,
be partial to
in the sense of prime
Definition
of the highest quality
It was one of the City's prime locations.
Synonyms
best,
top,
select,
highest,
capital,
quality,
choice,
selected,
excellent,
superior,
first-class,
first-rate,
grade-A
in the sense of privileged
Definition
enjoying a special right or immunity
They were a wealthy and privileged elite.
Synonyms
special,
powerful,
advantaged,
favoured,
ruling,
honoured,
entitled,
elite,
indulged
in the sense of rarefied
Definition
highly specialized
the rarefied atmosphere of university
Synonyms
exclusive,
select,
esoteric,
cliquish,
private,
occult,
clannish
in the sense of special
Definition
not usual
I usually reserve these outfits for special occasions.
Synonyms
exceptional,
important,
significant,
particular,
unique,
unusual,
extraordinary,
distinguished,
memorable,
gala,
festive,
uncommon,
momentous,
out of the ordinary,
one in a million,
red-letter,
especial (formal)
in the sense of superior
Definition
of very high quality or respectability
He's got a superior car, and it's easy to win races that way.