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 ”

Explanation

The President can appoint someone as ambassador to another county; that means to give them the job or recommend them for it. It must be nice to be appointed. Usually, people who want a job have to send in applications, do interviews, and jump through lots of hoops. Appointing is different: someone with the power to appoint can usually just give you the job. In some cases, appointing isn't a sure thing and means something closer to "recommending" — but it still beats filling out all those applications. It takes power to appoint people, which is why world leaders are often the ones appointing.

Example Sentences

They direct and appoint leaders to the state’s many executive agencies, boards and commissions, which oversee vast portfolios in vital areas, such as the environment, California’s university systems and the state parole board.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

They hope the FDA will appoint more members with compounding experience to the committee and ease enforcement on peptides while it continues the established regulatory process.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

In your state, would a court need to appoint a guardian?

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

The Derbyshire-based company filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators "as a precautionary measure" on 11 March.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Now, one member short and without a chairman to appoint a replacement, the board of trustees of the Swanburne Academy was stripped of all its power.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

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