appoint

American  

[uh-point] / əˈpɔɪnt /

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.

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verb (used without object)

1. Obsolete. to ordain; resolve; determine.

appoint British  

/ 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

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Related Words

See furnish.

Other Word Forms

• appointable adjective
• appointer noun
• misappoint verb (used with object)
• reappoint verb (used with object)
• unappointable adjective

Etymology

Origin of appoint

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

Example Sentences

Steve Borthwick had been appointed as head coach with just nine months to prepare for a Rugby World Cup and opted for a failsafe approach: kick high, long and often, and limit mistakes.

From BBC

In 2005, he was appointed as director of Downing Street's strategic communications unit under Tony Blair.

From BBC

She also appointed five people to the Virginia Military Institute and 12 to George Mason University.

From The Wall Street Journal

Helen, the oldest sibling, is a domineering homemaker who has appointed herself keeper of the family recipes.

From The Wall Street Journal

But he said Mandelson misled him about the extent of his friendship with Epstein before he was appointed.

From BBC

Related Words

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