1
: carefully selected : chosen
2
: chosen for salvation through divine mercy
3
a
: chosen for office or position but not yet installed
the president-elect
b
: chosen for marriage at some future time
the bride-elect
plural elect
1
: one chosen or set apart (as by divine favor)
2
elects plural
: a select or exclusive group of people
elected; electing; elects
1
: to select by vote for an office, position, or membership
elected her class president
2
: to make a selection of
will elect an academic program
3
: to choose (something, such as a course of action) especially by preference
might elect to sell the business
: to make a selection
Synonyms
Adjective
Noun
- A-list
- aristocracy
- best
- choice
- corps d'elite
- cream
- crème de la crème
- elite
- fat
- flower
- illuminati
- pick
- pink
- pride
- priesthood
- prime
- royalty
- upper crust
Verb
Examples of elect in a Sentence
Adjective
this elect body of students represents the best that the nation's high schools have to offer
Noun
the members of this all-American team are the elect of collegiate football
Verb
He hopes to be elected to the committee.
I've elected to study French as my foreign language.
Recent Examples on the Web
Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 19 Aug. 2011
But, proving that ticket-splitting is alive and well in New Hampshire, four out of five voters also opted to re-elect Republican Gov. Chris Sununu.
—Katie McInerney, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Nov. 2022
Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 11 Nov. 2024
Governor Mike Kehoe became the governor elect on Tuesday with a decisive victory over Democratic nominee Crystal Quade.
—Matt Rybaltowski, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
Schmuhl was elected to his four-year term as chair in 2021.
—Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for elect 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
And a little more than half the country will call him crazy and re-elect President Obama.
—Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 19 Aug. 2011
But, proving that ticket-splitting is alive and well in New Hampshire, four out of five voters also opted to re-elect Republican Gov. Chris Sununu.
—Katie McInerney, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Nov. 2022
Noun
But even states that elect coroners have some oversight.
—Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 11 Nov. 2024
Governor Mike Kehoe became the governor elect on Tuesday with a decisive victory over Democratic nominee Crystal Quade.
—Matt Rybaltowski, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
Smith was previously elected as mayor twice in 2008 and 2012.
—Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
Schmuhl was elected to his four-year term as chair in 2021.
—Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for elect
Articles Related to elect
Dictionary Entries Near elect
Cite this Entry
“Elect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elect. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
elect
1 of 3 adjective1
: carefully selected
2
: chosen for office but not yet holding office
president-elect
elect
2 of 3 plural noun
: a carefully chosen group
—used with the
elect
3 of 3 verb1
: to select by vote for an office, position, or membership
elect a senator
2
: select entry 1, choose
we elected to stay home
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