SO - 30048879

by Arun P Johny

HTML

<select name="zoom_cat[]" style="margin-left:15px;" id="contact_country">
    <option value="" selected="selected">Nothing</option>
    <option value="0">Singam</option>
    <option value="0">Singam2</option>
    <option value="1">Karadi</option>
    <option value="2">Poonai</option>
    <option value="3">Yaanai</option>
</select>

JavaScript

var myText = "Singam";
$("#contact_country option").each(function () {
    if ($(this).text() == myText) {
        $(this).prop("selected", true);
        //since element is found no need to iterate further
        return false;
    }
});