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

“This allows the president to appoint whoever he wants.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 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

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

BBC Sport understands Spurs will appoint Tudor's replacement in the next few days to be in place for when most players return from international duty.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

Even in an emergency the council was supposed to appoint a committee to determine a course of action.

From "An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793" by Jim Murphy

Related Words

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