selectively
selectively — adverb
1. in a manner where someone deliberately picks certain people, items, or pieces of
in a manner where someone deliberately picks certain people, items, or pieces of information out of a wider set, while purposefully ignoring or setting aside the rest.
Talia selectively applied the cream only to the sunburned areas of her arms.
selectively + only + specific area
The admissions team selectively invited candidates who had scored above ninety percent.
selectively + invited + criterion
Emre selectively shared details of his trip, mentioning only the funny stories.
The manager selectively shared the feedback, repeating only the positive comments from the review.
Scientists selectively bred the plants that produced the largest fruit each season.
- discriminatingly
more formal; often implies refined taste or careful judgement in quality
- preferentially
suggests giving special favour or advantage to certain choices over others
- prudently
emphasises caution and wise risk avoidance in the choice
- discerningly
formal; implies deep understanding and excellent judgement
- indiscriminately
without any careful choice, criteria, or distinction
- randomly
without intention or pattern; not guided by a conscious decision
- uniformly
applying the same treatment to all, without picking and choosing
用法筆記
Subject is typically a person, group, or organization making a deliberate choice from a larger set. Often paired with verbs such as apply, invite, share, remember, or target — the criterion used for selection is usually stated nearby (e.g., 'only the best students', 'based on test scores').