verb

elect

To choose someone by voting, or choose a course of action.

Residents elect a mayor to lead the city government.

Etymology

Latin eligere meant to pick out or choose. Voting is a particular method of making that choice, while electing a course of action preserves the broader sense.

More examples

  • The club members elect Rosa as their president.
  • He elects to receive his statements by email.
  • She elected to stay home rather than travel.

Forms

elect · elects · elected · electing

election noun — The process of choosing someone by voting.

Similar words

choose
More general; does not specifically suggest voting or formal decisions.
select
Emphasizes picking among options rather than a voting process.