deselect

D2E1S1E1L1E1C3T1
/ˌdiːsəˈlɛkt/

verb

To not select; to rule out of selection.

“Make sure you deselect any files you wish to keep before proceeding with the deletion.”

Similar
unselect
Opposite
selectreselect
OriginEnglish select ← Latin sēlēctu ← Proto-Italic *legō →
Less commonScrabble 11
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Meanings

verbdeselect (third-person singular simple present deselects, present participle deselecting, simple past and past participle deselected)

present singular third person deselects · participle present deselecting · participle past deselected · past deselected

  1. transitiveTo not select; to rule out of selection.

    ACTION may deselect a Trainee out of a training program for any of the following reasons: (a) Failure to meet training selection standards which includes, but is not limited to, the following conduct: […]

    1996, Code of Federal Regulations: 1985-1999, page 70
  2. UKtransitivegovernmentTo reject (an incumbent) as a party's candidate for a forthcoming election.

    One recently deselected Sinn Féin assembly member, Davy Hyland in Newry and Armagh, has already quit the party in protest.

    2007 January 5, The Guardian, page 3
  3. transitivecomputingTo remove from an existing selection.

    Make sure you deselect any files you wish to keep before proceeding with the deletion.

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar
unselect
Opposite
selectreselect
Also see
unselect

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*de
  2. Proto-Indo-European*déh₁
  3. Proto-Italic*dē
  4. Latindē
  5. Latindē-
  6. Englishde-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*s(w)é
  8. Latinsē-
  9. Proto-Indo-European*leǵ-
  10. Proto-Indo-European*léǵeti
  11. Proto-Italic*legō
  12. Latinlegō
  13. Latinsēlegō
  14. Latinsēlēctu
  15. Englishselect
  16. Englishdeselect

From de- + select.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish poistaa valinta, jättää valitsematta
  • poistaa valintaTo not select; to rule out of selection
  • jättää valitsemattaTo not select; to rule out of selection
French désélectionner
  • désélectionnerTo not select; to rule out of selection
German abwählen, entmarkieren
  • abwählenTo not select; to rule out of selection
  • entmarkierenTo not select; to rule out of selection
Portuguese desselecionar
  • desselecionarTo not select; to rule out of selection
Russian отмени́ть вы́бор
  • отмени́ть вы́бор (otmenítʹ výbor)To not select; to rule out of selection
Slovak odznačiť, odznačovať
  • odznačiťTo not select; to rule out of selection
  • odznačovaťTo not select; to rule out of selection
  • zrušiť výberTo not select; to rule out of selection
  • rušiť výberTo not select; to rule out of selection
Spanish deseleccionar
  • deseleccionarTo not select; to rule out of selection
Swedish avmarkera, välja bort
  • avmarkeraTo not select; to rule out of selection
  • välja bortTo not select; to rule out of selection

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with deselect

subjectprojectselectdirecteffectobjectperfectrespectconnectcorrectprotectexpectaffectreflectcollectcheckedsuspectdetectincorrectindirectprospectelectdefectneglect
All rhymes →

Anagrams

selected
Cite this entry
APA

deselect. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deselect

MLA

“deselect.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deselect. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “deselect,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deselect.

Source: deselect on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.