appoint
Americanverb (used with object)
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appoints,
present (3rd person singular)
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appointed,
past participle, past
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appointing
present participle
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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.
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to determine by authority or agreement; fix; set.
to appoint a time for the meeting.
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Law. to designate (a person) to take the benefit of an estate created by a deed or will.
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to provide with what is necessary; equip; furnish.
They appointed the house with all the latest devices.
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Archaic. to order or establish by decree or command; ordain; constitute.
laws appointed by God.
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Obsolete. to point at by way of censure.
verb (used without object)
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appoints,
present (3rd person singular)
-
appointed,
past participle, past
-
appointing
present participle
verb
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(also intr) to assign officially, as for a position, responsibility, etc
he was appointed manager
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to establish by agreement or decree; fix
a time was appointed for the duel
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to prescribe or ordain
laws appointed by tribunal
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property law to nominate (a person), under a power granted in a deed or will, to take an interest in property
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to equip with necessary or usual features; furnish
a well-appointed hotel
Synonym Usage
See furnish.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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appointernoun
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misappointverb (used with object)
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reappointverb (used with object)
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appointableadjective
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unappointableadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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appointsimple
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appointssimple
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have appointedperfect
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has appointedperfect
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am appointingprogressive
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are appointingprogressive
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is appointingprogressive
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have been appointingperfect progressive
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has been appointingperfect progressive
Past
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appointedsimple
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had appointedperfect
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was appointingprogressive
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were appointingprogressive
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had been appointingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing appoint
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Vocabulary from The Articles of Confederation
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Vocabulary from the Constitution of the United States
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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.
See Examples For:
Lantry asked Mastro, pointing out that it is legal for mayors to appoint their own board members to empty seats.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
It also announced changes to its age-verification process and parental controls as well as agreeing to appoint an independent auditor to check the measures are implemented and maintained.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
A parent or legal guardian can open and manage an account on the minor’s behalf, or a probate court can appoint a guardian or conservator, or set up a restricted account, depending on state law.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026
It’s not even unprecedented for them to appoint family members.
From Salon ● Aug. 18, 2026
“Look, you don’t have to work at the ministry. I can appoint you to a board, any board you want, and I will furnish a flat for you wherever you want.”
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
If you decline before the court appoints you, you simply do not file a petition for letters testamentary.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026
Bass sits on LAHSA’s 10-member board and appoints four of its members.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Coombs said investors are currently giving Burnham the benefit of the doubt as they await clarity on who he appoints to his top team, especially who he names as chancellor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 24, 2026
Nike appoints David Denton, formerly of Pfizer and CVS Health, as its new chief financial officer, effective Aug. 17.
From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026
Caroline appoints me official art director of the paper chain, which means I’m going to have to do most of it and supervise the rest.
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, led by a board mostly appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott, has turned the $1 fee hike into at least 3,200 Flock cameras.
From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2026
Toss Master Kyle Mathews, co-organiser of the event, said an official tournament geologist had been appointed this year, leaving no stone unturned in keeping the 400 challengers in order.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
A US lobbying firm working for a Nigerian opposition leader said one of its top employees was appointed to a White House commission, ahead of presidential elections in Africa's most populous country.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
Tyler joined the board as a nonexecutive director in April 2025 and was appointed interim chairman on May 26 after BP removed Albert Manifold, citing “serious concerns” about governance and conduct.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
Every year Mama made enough Christmas cookies to feed the entire population of Harlem, and ever since he could remember, she appointed him the distributor.
From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser
When appointing him as acting minister, Zelensky had said that "Khmara has gained extensive and, in many respects, unprecedented experience with technological combat operations."
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
The company announced a leadership change yesterday, appointing Skye Anderson as U.S. business president.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
The theory suggests teams often enjoy a short-term improvement after appointing a new head coach, helped by renewed motivation, tactical tweaks and a psychological reset.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
In other instances, they were daughters, state officials, or even the spouses of the governors doing the appointing.
From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026
Time was so short, the Executive Committee began planning exhibits and appointing world’s fair commissioners to secure them.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
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.
