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

California’s next governor would have the power to end Newsom’s moratorium on the death penalty, appoint state judges and grant state pardons.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

OpenAI said it doesn’t have any immediate plans to appoint a new COO.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Club sources told BBC Sport that De Zerbi's comments on Greenwood had been considered as part of the process to appoint him and had formed part of discussions.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 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

He did this hoping Tehlu would delay so he could make his escape, but the Walking God paused only to appoint priests who cared for the people of the ruined town.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Related Words

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