appoint

[ uh-point ]

verb (used with object)

1. to name or assign to a position, an office, or the like; designate:

   to appoint a new treasurer; to appoint a judge to the bench.

   Synonyms: select, choose

   Antonyms: discharge, dismiss

2. to determine by authority or agreement; fix; set:

   to appoint a time for the meeting.

   Synonyms: establish, prescribe

3. Law. to designate (a person) to take the benefit of an estate created by a deed or will.
4. to provide with what is necessary; equip; furnish:

   They appointed the house with all the latest devices.

5. Archaic. to order or establish by decree or command; ordain; constitute:

   laws appointed by God.

6. Obsolete. to point at by way of censure.

verb (used without object)

1. Obsolete. to ordain; resolve; determine.

appoint

/ əˈpɔɪnt /

verb

1. also intr to assign officially, as for a position, responsibility, etc

   he was appointed manager

2. to establish by agreement or decree; fix

   a time was appointed for the duel

3. to prescribe or ordain

   laws appointed by tribunal

4. property law to nominate (a person), under a power granted in a deed or will, to take an interest in property
5. to equip with necessary or usual features; furnish

   a well-appointed hotel

Derived Forms

• apˈpointer, noun

Other Words From

• ap·pointa·ble adjective
• ap·pointer noun
• misap·point verb (used with object)
• reap·point verb (used with object)
• unap·pointa·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of appoint¹

1325–75; Middle English apointen, from Middle French apointer, equivalent to a- a- ⁵ + pointer “to point ”

Word History and Origins

Origin of appoint¹

C14: from Old French apointer to put into a good state, from a point in good condition, literally: to a point

Synonym Study

See furnish.

Example Sentences

But it parallels issues that the court appointed auditors have raised.

From Los Angeles Times

Newman argued there still needed to be "clarity" about whether the civil service knew of certain donations before appointing Sargeant, Middleton and Corfield.

From BBC

Trump has also appointed his good pal and transition chief Howard Lutnick to head the Commerce Department.

From Salon

LD, a neurological problem where the vocal cords spasm, has drawn more attention since US President-elect Donald Trump appointed Robert F Kennedy Jr - who has the condition - to his new team.

From BBC

The newly appointed Border Security Commander, Martin Hewitt, has told us: “We will keep chipping away and undermining their business to the point where that is no longer viable and profitable.”

From BBC

Related Words

• assign
• choose
• designate
• elect
• establish
• install
• name
• nominate
• select
• set