appoint

[ uh-point ]
See synonyms for appoint on Thesaurus.com
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.

  2. to determine by authority or agreement; fix; set: to appoint a time for the meeting.

  1. Law. to designate (a person) to take the benefit of an estate created by a deed or will.

  2. to provide with what is necessary; equip; furnish: They appointed the house with all the latest devices.

  3. Archaic. to order or establish by decree or command; ordain; constitute: laws appointed by God.

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

verb (used without object)
  1. Obsolete. to ordain; resolve; determine.

Origin of appoint

1
1325–75; Middle English apointen, from Middle French apointer, equivalent to a- a-5 + pointer “to point

synonym study For appoint

4. See furnish.

Other words for appoint

Opposites for appoint

Other words from appoint

  • 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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use appoint in a sentence

  • Instead of Parliament they will try to rule with judges appointed by the king; they will do everything for their appointer.

    Balsamo, The Magician | Alexander Dumas
  • The well-being of the country, with appointer and appointees, becomes a secondary consideration.

  • Diomed, who was rather ceremonious, had appointed a nomenclator, or appointer of places to each guest.

    The Last Days of Pompeii | Edward George Bulwer-Lytton

British Dictionary definitions for appoint

appoint

/ (əˈpɔɪnt) /


verb(mainly tr)
  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

  1. to prescribe or ordain: laws appointed by tribunal

  2. property law to nominate (a person), under a power granted in a deed or will, to take an interest in property

  3. to equip with necessary or usual features; furnish: a well-appointed hotel

Origin of appoint

1
C14: from Old French apointer to put into a good state, from a point in good condition, literally: to a point

Derived forms of appoint

  • appointer, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012