verb
elect
ih-LEHKT
verb
1
To choose someone for a position through a vote.
"The members elected a new chairperson at the meeting."
"She was elected mayor for the third time."
2
To choose or decide to do something.
"He elected to stay home rather than travel in the storm."
adjective
1
Chosen for a role but not yet officially in it.
"The president-elect will take office in January."
How to Use Elect
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo choose someone by vote, or more generally, to decide to do something.
Common pairings
elect a president
elect to do something
president-elect
Word Forms
elected past tense, elects plural, elect plural, elects singular
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Etymology
From Latin electus, "chosen," the past participle of eligere, "to pick out."