assign

[ uh-sahyn ]

verb (used with object)

1. to give or allocate; allot:

   to assign rooms at a hotel.

2. to give out or announce as a task:

   to assign homework.

3. to appoint, as to a post or duty:

   to assign one to guard duty.

4. to designate; name; specify:

   to assign a day for a meeting.

   Synonyms: determine, fix

5. to ascribe; attribute; bring forward:

   to assign a cause.

   Synonyms: offer, show, advance, allege, adduce

6. Law. to transfer:

   to assign a contract.

7. Military. to place permanently on duty with a unit or under a commander.

verb (used without object)

1. Law. to transfer property, especially in trust or for the benefit of creditors.

noun

1. Usually assigns. Law. a person to whom the property or interest of another is or may be transferred; assignee:

   my heirs and assigns.

assign

/ əˈsaɪn /

verb

1. to select for and appoint to a post, etc

   to assign an expert to the job

2. to give out or allot (a task, problem, etc)

   to assign advertising to an expert

3. to set apart (a place, person, time, etc) for a particular function or event

   to assign a day for the meeting

4. to attribute to a specified cause, origin, or source; ascribe

   to assign a stone cross to the Vikings

5. to transfer (one's right, interest, or title to property) to someone else
6. also intr law (formerly) to transfer (property) to trustees so that it may be used for the benefit of creditors
7. military to allocate (men or materials) on a permanent basis Compare attach
8. computing to place (a value corresponding to a variable) in a memory location

noun

1. law a person to whom property is assigned; assignee

Derived Forms

• asˈsigner, noun
• asˈsignably, adverb
• asˌsignaˈbility, noun
• asˈsignable, adjective

Other Words From

• as·signer Chiefly Law. as·sign·or [uh, -sahy-, nawr, as-, uh, -, nawr], noun
• misas·sign verb
• nonas·signed adjective
• preas·sign verb (used with object)
• preas·signed adjective
• reas·sign verb (used with object)
• self-as·signed adjective
• unas·signed adjective
• well-as·signed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of assign¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English assignen, from Old French assigner, from Latin assignāre; equivalent to as- + sign

Word History and Origins

Origin of assign¹

C14: from Old French assigner, from Latin assignāre, from signāre to mark out

Synonym Study

Assign, allocate, allot mean to apportion or measure out. To assign is to distribute available things, designating them to be given to or reserved for specific persons or purposes: to assign duties. To allocate is to earmark or set aside parts of things available or expected in the future, each for a specific purpose: to allocate income to various types of expenses. To allot implies making restrictions as to amount, size, purpose, etc., and then apportioning or assigning: to allot spaces for parking.

Example Sentences

Former prisoners have recounted being assigned work that they didn’t want or that interfered with classes or drug and alcohol treatment programs they wanted to take.

From Los Angeles Times

He was drafted into the Army in 1953, at the tail end of the Korean War, and, because he spoke German, French and Russian, assigned to an intelligence unit in Germany.

From New York Times

The study involved 32 individuals with TBI, randomly assigned to either a sleep or wake group following training on a motor task.

From Science Daily

Their lack of battlefield experience was given as a key reason why they might just be assigned to non-combat roles.

From BBC

Mr Butlin assigned a worker to get guests involved in games with icebreakers and jokes.

From BBC

Related Words

• accredit
• allow
• appoint
• attach
• authorize
• charge
• commit
• designate
• draft
• elect
• empower
• entrust
• hire
• name
• nominate
• refer
• select