unselect

A student unselects the wrong answer on a multiple-choice quiz.

Definition

Verb: to reverse a selection; to remove the selection from something that has been chosen. - In computing and user interfaces, "unselect" means to deselect an item, option, or area that was previously selected, making it no longer active or highlighted.

Adjective (rare, technical): not selected; lacking selection. - This usage is uncommon and typically appears in formal or technical contexts, meaning not chosen or not subject to a selection process.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • Please unselect the checkbox before submitting the form. (Remove the checkmark from that option.)
  • If you change your mind, you can unselect the file by clicking it again. (Reverse the selection of that file.)

• Adjective:

  • The unselect items remained in the list for further review. (Items that were not chosen stayed in the list.)

Advanced Usage

• "to unselect all": to remove selection from every chosen item at once.

  • Click the button to unselect all items in the cart. (Deselect everything.)

• "unselect in bulk": to remove selection from multiple items simultaneously.

  • You can unselect in bulk by holding the Shift key and clicking. (Deselect several items at once.)

Variants and Related Words

• Unselected (adj): not chosen; not picked.

  • The unselected candidates were thanked for their applications. (Candidates who were not chosen.)

• Unselective (adj): not making careful choices; indiscriminate.

  • His unselective reading habits led to a broad but shallow knowledge. (Not choosing carefully.)

Synonyms

• Deselect: to cancel the selection of something (most common synonym).

  • You can deselect the option by pressing Ctrl+Z. (Reverse the selection.)

• Uncheck: to remove a checkmark from a box (specific to checkboxes).

  • Uncheck the box to disable notifications. (Remove the tick.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Unselect from: to remove selection from a specific item or group.
  • Unselect from the list any items you no longer wish to include. (Remove those items from the selected set.)

Related Idioms

• Take out of the running (informal): to remove something from consideration or selection.

  • After the error, the program took that option out of the running. (Effectively unselected it.)

• Pull the plug on (figurative): to stop or cancel something previously chosen or active.

  • The manager pulled the plug on the selected proposal. (Cancelled the selection.)