appoint
Americanverb (used with object)
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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)
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
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.
Upon closing of the deal, which is expected to occur by mid-2027, Foley is expected to remain CEO, while Unilever will appoint four of the 12 members of the combined company’s board of directors.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026
But in the short term, Norwegian can appoint all the board members it wants—the stock will still be driven largely by fuel prices and broader macro pressures.
From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026
The cruise operator said Friday it will appoint five new independent directors including Alex Cruz, former chief executive of British Airways, and Kevin Lansberry, who previously served as finance chief for Disney’s Experiences division.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
He called for “shared dialogue” and “shared advocacy,” announcing that he would appoint a task force “comprised of stakeholders on all sides of this to continue to have the conversation.”
From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026
He urged the Army to appoint Nancy Jaax to the position, and the Army listened.
From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston
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.
