appointed
Americanadjective
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by, through, or as a result of an appointment (often in contrast withelected ).
an appointed official.
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predetermined; arranged; set.
They met at the appointed time in the appointed place.
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provided with what is necessary; equipped; furnished.
a beautifully appointed office.
Synonym Usage
See furnish.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of appointed
Explanation
To be appointed is to be given a task or job. If you're appointed as the week's doughnut fetcher at work, it means you've been assigned the job of bringing treats for everyone. You might be appointed for a small duty or for a large promotion, as when the gym teacher at school is unexpectedly appointed principal. Another way to use the adjective appointed is to mean "well furnished." Lovely homes and fancy hotels are often described as "well appointed" or "luxuriously appointed.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
McDonald’s, which has reported sluggish sales growth in recent months and declining traffic, earlier this month appointed a new president of its U.S. operations, Skye Anderson.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Torossian explained due to Mason's health conditions, a 'god man' - a legally appointed trustee - was given power of attorney to look after her dad's affairs.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
“He is represented in the underlying criminal matter by the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office, appointed counsel to whom Nick has a right and who continues to represent him.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
The newly appointed president has declared an "economic emergency" and spent the week visiting quake-hit cities, promising rent subsidies to those who lost their homes.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
About a year ago Francis repeated to me a rumor—which we subsequently found was complete romance—that Julian had been appointed royal tutor to the little crown prince of Suaoriland, somewhere in East Africa.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
