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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of elect
USA Today, 6 May 2026
Cayler, 45, was first elected in 2024.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 6 May 2026
Tim Reynolds, ajc, 7 Nov. 2021
Voters chose to re-elect incumbents Daniel Ursu and Juanita Lewis.
—cleveland, 4 Nov. 2021
Matt Richardson, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Leefbaar Rotterdam, Reichman’s political party, has sought to distance itself from the council member-elect.
—Brooke Migdon, PEOPLE, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elect
Verb
The Catholic Church’s College of Cardinals elected Robert Francis Prevost as the successor to Pope Francis, who had died April 21.
—USA Today, 6 May 2026
Cayler, 45, was first elected in 2024.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 6 May 2026
Adjective
In some cases, those who are vaccinated but elect to not receive a booster would be subjected to game-day testing again starting Dec. 1, the NBA said.
—Tim Reynolds, ajc, 7 Nov. 2021
Voters chose to re-elect incumbents Daniel Ursu and Juanita Lewis.
—cleveland, 4 Nov. 2021
Noun
Even if the central bank elects to keep rates frozen at its meeting on April 28 and 29, comments made by officials could still cause rates to rise.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Leefbaar Rotterdam, Reichman’s political party, has sought to distance itself from the council member-elect.
—Brooke Migdon, PEOPLE, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elect
Verb
-
Let curiosity lead, and choose the next step that keeps things moving forward without overthinking it.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
-
Williams bought his on the TikTok shop, and chose it because it was advertised as spraying quickly.—
Rebecca Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
And, in its first-ever screening, a select few fans, who also happen to be leading the charge of the new generation of horror, got to see it Thursday night.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
1 May 2026
-
The company noted that select retail partnerships to be explored in the future.—
Stephen Garner,
Footwear News,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Test your knowledge of baseball bests, restaurant revamps and more in this week's American Culture Quiz.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
-
Then the speakers’ exhortations to excellence would build in emotional intensity until women began to weep and the meeting erupted in spontaneous pledges to set new personal bests.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The driving range was packed, families milled around the miniature golf course, and inside, the pro shop had been picked nearly clean of gear bearing the course’s logo.—
Rick Maese,
Washington Post,
4 May 2026
-
What number will the Steelers be picking from in the 2027 draft?—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
The selected artist will be notified by early October.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The gist, however, seems to be that extra-terrestrials make contact with a selected few, before promising to go public to the entire world — good luck dealing with the ramifications of that one, human race!—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Breyer is married to Joanna Freda Hare, a psychologist and member of the British aristocracy.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The lower classes and the clergy had always hated the Castilians, and the Portuguese aristocracy and the commercial classes—previously content with the patronage and the economic opportunities that the union with Spain had provided—had become dissatisfied during the preceding 20 years.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Hispanic Caucus’ PAC would continue to back their two preferred candidates who were passed over Monday by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, its chair said in a statement.—
Nicholas Wu,
semafor.com,
4 May 2026
-
Studio albums took hold as their preferred platform.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Georgia Tech football might have found its next elite running back just 25 miles north of Bobby Dodd Stadium.—
Jack Leo,
AJC.com,
1 May 2026
-
There were ups and downs through the race’s first few decades, but always a consistent effort to get elites— women included—to the track.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elect. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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