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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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 ruling effectively raised the bar for challenges to election maps that limit the equal opportunity of minority voters to elect candidates of their choosing, even if lawmakers did not have deliberate intent to discriminate. — Deena Zaru, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 This June, a reform coalition led by the New Kings Democrats, calling itself Brooklyn Can’t Wait, won a majority to oust the current chair, Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, and elect Julio Peña III as her successor. — Doug Schneider, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 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
  • Shop the Patio Zen Deck Box in black or gray and choose from 16 capacities ranging from 30 to 320 gallons.
    — Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Festivalgoers were never forced to choose between artists, as sets were separated by 10-minute breaks, preventing overlap.
    — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of choose
Adjective
  • Verizon is offering up to $830 off the whole iPhone 17 series with the trade-in of an eligible old (or even damaged) phone and a qualified activation for select Verizon myPlan plans.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Mamdani’s signature 2-K program is scheduled to launch this fall with 2,000 students in select school districts, with the goal of expanding citywide over four years.
    — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 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
  • Allergists recommend bypassing diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and instead, picking your favorite nonsedating antihistamine pill, like fexofenadine (Allegra), loratadine (Claritin) or cetirizine (Zyrtec), according to the World Allergy Organization.
    — Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • For some Donalds supporters, like 56-year-old Cushing from Aventura, the choice to pick a Cuban American as lieutenant governor did signal a bigger change in the Republican Party and was worth highlighting.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 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
  • Just a few days earlier at Palazzo Brancaccio, the ladies of the Roman aristocracy had vied to appear in the ballroom scenes, perhaps hoping to meet Gregory Peck.
    — Daria Egidi, Vanity Fair, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Upon his arrival in London, Mai became something of a celebrity among the aristocracy, and was welcomed by King George III.
    — Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of aristocracy
Adjective
  • The clearest sign of the change came in 2024, when a study recorded Americans choosing cannabis over alcohol for daily consumption, marking the first time in history that cannabis has overtaken alcohol as the preferred daily substance.
    — Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • This week, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation metric, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, along with the final US first-quarter GDP reading, will also be released.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of preferred
Noun
  • Aesthetic experiences were here not reserved for museums or the elite, but folded in along with daily drudgeries.
    — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
  • As the girls ache for a way into the glittering world of the waterfront elite, a secret phone romance with a boy from the local boat club finally makes that dream feel possible.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of elite

Browse Nearby Words

elder statesmen
elect
elected
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Elect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elect. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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