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 Web
Sarwant Singh, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Peacock’s Premium Plus tier includes all of the above, plus your local NBC channel live, no ads (except on select live TV shows) and the ability to download select titles to watch offline later.
—Erin Lassner, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Jan. 2025
Carol Schram, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
By Sam Stone January 14, 2025 All products are independently selected by our editors.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 14 Jan. 2025
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2024
Not to mention the high quality selects below will run you less than $100.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for select 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
In fact, almost 40% of all autonomous vehicles sold in 2025 are expected to have L2 ADAS features, with select regions seeing commercial expansion of vehicles equipped with L3 ADAS features.
—Sarwant Singh, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Peacock’s Premium Plus tier includes all of the above, plus your local NBC channel live, no ads (except on select live TV shows) and the ability to download select titles to watch offline later.
—Erin Lassner, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
After no Swede was selected in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft, Central Scouting’s list of top international skaters for 2025 is topped by a pair of teammates from Djurgardens in the nation’s second-tier Allsvenskan men’s league.
—Carol Schram, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
By Sam Stone January 14, 2025 All products are independently selected by our editors.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
Opening selects shows are Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band, Hollow Hand, Wild Pink, This Is Lorelei, Nap Eyes, and Trace Mountains.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2024
Not to mention the high quality selects below will run you less than $100.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for select
Dictionary Entries Near select
Cite this Entry
“Select.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/select. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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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