appoint
Americanverb (used with object)
-
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.
-
to determine by authority or agreement; fix; set.
to appoint a time for the meeting.
-
Law. to designate (a person) to take the benefit of an estate created by a deed or will.
-
to provide with what is necessary; equip; furnish.
They appointed the house with all the latest devices.
-
Archaic. to order or establish by decree or command; ordain; constitute.
laws appointed by God.
-
Obsolete. to point at by way of censure.
verb (used without object)
verb
-
(also intr) to assign officially, as for a position, responsibility, etc
he was appointed manager
-
to establish by agreement or decree; fix
a time was appointed for the duel
-
to prescribe or ordain
laws appointed by tribunal
-
property law to nominate (a person), under a power granted in a deed or will, to take an interest in property
-
to equip with necessary or usual features; furnish
a well-appointed hotel
Synonym Usage
See furnish.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
appointernoun
-
misappointverb (used with object)
-
reappointverb (used with object)
-
appointableadjective
-
unappointableadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
appointsimple
-
appointssimple
-
have appointedperfect
-
has appointedperfect
-
am appointingprogressive
-
are appointingprogressive
-
is appointingprogressive
-
have been appointingperfect progressive
-
has been appointingperfect progressive
Past
-
appointedsimple
-
had appointedperfect
-
was appointingprogressive
-
were appointingprogressive
-
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
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Vocabulary from The Articles of Confederation
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Vocabulary from the Constitution of the United States
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Under Australian law, employers and unions appoint directors to ISF trustee boards under what is called the equal representation model.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
In 2018, he urged the president to appoint an assistant secretary to oversee DRL, a post Trump had left vacant for over a year.
From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026
Unified to detail specifically how it will carry out the future cuts; otherwise the county superintendent will appoint a trustee with authority to veto spending decisions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
His successor has given little detail about his policy plans and has not announced who he will appoint to key cabinet roles.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 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
The likely next prime minister, Andy Burnham, has previously expressed support for leasehold reform, but who he appoints as housing secretary will matter.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 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
The court found that administrative patent judges, who hold inferior office, should be subject to appointment by both the president and the Senate, unless their relevant director appoints them.
From Salon ● May 2, 2026
The governor appoints the state board, which approves the wording of state education policies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 8, 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
Bylaws empower the chair to set the board’s agenda and pick a vice chair, though the board—which is largely appointed by the mayor—can expand those powers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Mamdani also appointed Tony Shorris, a long-trusted hand for the city and business community, as the EDC’s president and CEO.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Fifa has appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to assess what happened and any player or coach involved could receive a suspension while the Argentine Football Association could also be fined.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
"Falling inflation is news families want to hear but there is much more to do to give people the breathing space they need," said newly appointed finance minister John Healey.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
He was appointed counsel who did very little to prepare the case for trial.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
Henry Kissinger’s misdeeds in Cambodia couldn’t keep the College of William and Mary from appointing him chancellor.
From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026
He is expected to start appointing his senior ministers once inside No 10.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
Graham, a prominent foreign-policy hawk and close Trump ally, died unexpectedly over the weekend at 71, leaving McMaster responsible for appointing someone to serve until the senator's term expires in January.
From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026
Although the Constitution gives Congress a role in appointing these officers, the president alone has the power to remove them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
Eisenhower soon launched an initiative to do that “something,” appointing Harold Stassen as his special assistant for disarmament in March 1955.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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.
