nominate

American  

[nom-uh-neyt, nom-uh-nit] / ˈnɒm əˌneɪt, ˈnɒm ə nɪt /

verb (used with object)

nominated, nominating

1. to propose (someone) for appointment or election to an office.

   Synonyms:

   choose, pick

2. to appoint to a duty or office.

3. to propose for an honor, award, or the like.

4. Horse Racing. to register (a horse) as an entry in a race.

5. to name; designate.

6. Obsolete. to specify.

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adjective

1. having a particular name.

nominate British  

verb

1. to propose as a candidate, esp for an elective office

2. to appoint to an office or position

3. to name (someone) to act on one's behalf, esp to conceal one's identity

4. (intr) to stand as a candidate in an election

5. archaic to name, entitle, or designate

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adjective

1. rare having a particular name

Other Word Forms

• nominator noun
• renominate verb (used with object)
• unnominated adjective

Etymology

Origin of nominate

1475–85; < Latin nōminātus (past participle of nōmināre to name, call by name), equivalent to nōmin- (stem of nōmen; nomen ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Explanation

When you suggest a person for a position in the government, or propose a theme for your school's prom, you nominate that person or idea, especially if it's done in an official way. In the United States, political parties hold primary elections and conventions to nominate candidates for president. The word nominate originally meant "to call by name," from the Latin word for "name," nomen , but by 1600 it began to be used to talk about politics.

Example Sentences

Upon completion of the financing round, Wallenberg Investments intends to nominate its senior industrialist Hakan Buskhe as a board member of Stegra, and senior advisor Leif Johansson as chair of the board.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Then: “If he chooses to nominate somebody else and asks me to go do something else, I will say, ‘Thank you very much.

From Slate • Apr. 11, 2026

And for the open seat in Iowa, Democrats seem likely to nominate a two-time Paralympic gold medalist who represents the reddest state house seat held by a Democrat.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026

Following the publication of the initial list of players, franchises were asked to nominate which players they would potentially be interested in.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

A ruling group is a ruling group so long as it can nominate its successors.

From "1984" by George Orwell

Related Words

• appoint
• assign
• choose
• decide
• draft
• elect
• elevate
• name
• present
• propose
• recommend
• submit
• suggest
• tap