# elect

/ɪˈɫɛkt/ (US) · /ɪlˈɛkt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/elect
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to choose by voting

verb · CEFR B1

to choose someone for an official position by voting for them.

For teachers: to select a candidate for public office or a position of authority through a formal voting process.

- The citizens will elect a new mayor in the upcoming November election.
- The local community voted to elect a representative who promised to prioritise environmental conservation and urban infrastructure overhauls.

### 2. to choose to do something

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to decide to do something or choose a particular option.

For teachers: to make a deliberate choice or decision to pursue a specific course of action.

- Many students elect to take a gap year before starting their university studies.
- The defendant may elect to remain silent during the trial, a right protected under the constitutional framework of the legal system.

Usage: often followed by an infinitive verb ('to do')

### 3. chosen but not yet in office

adjective · CEFR B2

describes someone who has won an election but has not officially started their new job yet.

For teachers: designating a person who has been elected to a position but has not yet been inaugurated or assumed office.

- The president-elect is currently busy choosing the people for her new team.
- The governor-elect spent the transition period meeting with outgoing officials to ensure a seamless transfer of administrative responsibilities.

Usage: always placed immediately after the noun it describes

### 4. the chosen ones

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a group of people who have been specially chosen, often for a religious or elite reason.

For teachers: a group of persons considered as being specially chosen or set apart, particularly those predestined for salvation in theological contexts.

- In some old traditions, people believed only the elect would go to heaven.
- The doctrine suggests that the elect are chosen through divine grace rather than through their own individual actions or merits.

Usage: usually used with 'the' as a collective noun

## Examples

- The president-elect is preparing for the new job.
- The governor-elect spent the weeks before the ceremony meeting with current staff to ensure a smooth transition.
- While the president-elect holds no formal executive power until the inauguration, their public statements often begin to influence national policy and market confidence immediately after the vote.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.