Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

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.


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

"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

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Though appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, special rapporteurs are independent experts and do not speak on behalf of the United Nations itself.

From Barron's

Super Micro also said Friday it had appointed DeAnna Luna as acting chief compliance officer.

From Barron's

Super Micro also appointed DeAnna Luna to the role of chief compliance officer, effectively splitting the compliance and CFO roles, according to Chokshi.

From MarketWatch

As prime minister, he charted a pragmatic economic course and sought to stamp out corruption, appointing only scandal-free ministers to his team.

From Barron's

Effective Monday, Simon’s board appointed Eli Simon, one of David Simon’s five children, as its CEO and president.

From The Wall Street Journal