reselect
C1formal, political, administrative
Definition
Meaning
to select again or choose a second time.
To choose someone or something again after a period, often involving a formal or competitive process such as an election, appointment, or renewal of a contract.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The prefix 're-' implies a repetition of an action. It typically involves a conscious, often official, decision-making process. It can be transitive (reselect someone/something) or used passively (be reselected).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily spelling: UK favours 'reselect', US accepts both 'reselect' and 're-select'. The concept is identical.
Connotations
In both variants, the word carries formal connotations, often political (e.g., reselecting a candidate for an election) or procedural (e.g., reselecting a committee member).
Frequency
More frequent in UK political and institutional contexts due to party candidate selection processes. In the US, 'renominate' is often used for political candidates.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] reselects [Object][Object] is reselected by [Subject][Subject] was reselected for [Position/Role]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms directly associated.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The board voted to reselect the external auditor for another term.
Academic
The panel decided to reselect the key variables for the longitudinal study.
Everyday
I had to reselect all the files I wanted to download after the page crashed.
Technical
The system will automatically reselect the optimal frequency band if interference is detected.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The local constituency party will reselect their MP next month.
- After the software update, you'll need to reselect your preferred language.
American English
- The union voted to reselect their bargaining team.
- If the connection drops, the router will automatically reselect the strongest signal.
adjective
British English
- The reselected candidate began campaigning immediately.
American English
- The reselected committee members will serve a two-year term.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please reselect the colour you want from the menu.
- The team captain was reselected for the next tournament.
- After the controversy, the party decided not to reselect him as their candidate.
- The incumbent faced a significant challenge from within her own party to be reselected for the safe seat.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'RE' (again) + 'SELECT' (choose). To choose again.
Conceptual Metaphor
SELECTION AS A CYCLICAL PROCESS (The act of choosing repeats like a cycle or a season).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'перевыбирать' (not standard). Use 'переизбирать' (for people), 'выбирать заново', or 'повторно выбирать'.
- Do not confuse with 're-elect' which is more specific to elected positions; 'reselect' is broader.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 're-select' in British contexts (though accepted, closed form is standard).
- Using it for trivial, non-formal choices ('I reselected my breakfast cereal').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'reselect' MOST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while common in political contexts (reselection of candidates), it is also used in business, technology (reselection of a server, frequency), and general formal procedures.
'Re-elect' specifically refers to electing someone again to a public office by vote. 'Reselect' is broader and can refer to any formal selection process again, not necessarily by public election (e.g., a committee reselecting its chair).
In modern standard English, the closed form 'reselect' is preferred, especially in British English. The hyphenated form 're-select' is also understood and sometimes used, particularly in American English.
Yes, especially in technical contexts (e.g., 'The algorithm reselected a different data path', 'Please reselect the files for upload').