Vocapedia
Log inTry for Free
Log in

Looking up...

Words

  • Words of the Year
  • Recent Lookups
  • My Dictionary

Languages

  • English
  • Vietnamese
  • Japanese
  • Chinese
  • Spanish
  • French
  • Korean
  • German

Features

  • Words of the Year
  • My Collections List
  • Reviews
  • Learning Resources
  • Community Collections

Learn

  • How It Works
  • Study Guides
  • Language Tips
  • FAQ
  • Getting Started
  • For Individuals
  • For Teachers

Community

  • Forum
  • Blog
  • Help Center
  • Partnerships

About

  • About Vocapedia
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility
  • GDPR Compliance
© 2026 Vocapedia. All rights reserved.

select

/sɪˈlɛkt/
verb★Intermediate— to choose from a group
general

to choose or pick out from a group or range of options

He selected a book from the shelf.

He chose a book from the shelf.

The committee will select a candidate next week.

The committee will choose a candidate next week.

💡

Often used when there is a deliberate or careful choice being made.

technical

to choose or pick out from a group or range of options

You can select multiple files by holding down the Ctrl key.

You can choose multiple files by holding down the Ctrl key.

💡

In computing, 'select' often refers to highlighting or choosing items in a user interface.

Collocations

select a fewto choose a small number of itemsselect carefullyto choose with careful considerationselect fromto choose from a range of options

Synonyms

choosepickopt forelect

Antonyms

rejectignoredeselect

Related Phrases

select fewphrase
a small group of people with special qualities
select committeephrase
a group of people chosen to investigate or report on a specific issue

💡Pro Tip

Common Usage

'Select' is often used in formal or technical contexts, while 'choose' is more common in everyday speech.

⚡Gold Rule

Formal vs. Informal

Use 'select' in formal or technical writing, and 'choose' in casual conversation.

📖Word Origin

From Latin 'selectus', past participle of 'seligere', meaning 'to choose'

📝Usage Notes

Can be used both transitively (with an object) and intransitively (without an object).

Word Breakdown

select
to choose
root
English Dictionary

Learning Progress

Track your learning journey!

• Save words to build your vocabulary

• Monitor your daily streak

• Get personalized review reminders

• See words learned statistics

Log in to access advanced features and track your progress!

Go to Dashboard →

Recent Lookups

The most recent words being looked up. Stay up to date with what language learners are exploring.