appoint

[uh-point]

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.

verb (used without object)

1. Obsolete.,  to ordain; resolve; determine.

appoint

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of appoint¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of appoint¹

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

Synonym Study

See furnish.

Example Sentences

Manoj Sinha, the region's Lieutenant Governor appointed by the Indian government, expressed his condolences and said he had ordered an investigation.

Read more on BBC

The FCC's first chief justice and the judges that serve in it will be appointed by the president.

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"And is that possible for next week? I genuinely do not know. My job was to come in and hold the fort, and the minute that someone is appointed, I will step aside."

Read more on Barron's

Still, the leadership change, announced in early October, was abrupt for a company that conducted a multiyear horse race before appointing Vestberg.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Speaking about the trial, Hasina said she hadn't been able to defend herself or appoint her own lawyers.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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