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appointed

American  
[uh-poin-tid] / əˈpɔɪn tɪd /

adjective

  1. by, through, or as a result of an appointment (often in contrast withelected ).

    an appointed official.

  2. predetermined; arranged; set.

    They met at the appointed time in the appointed place.

  3. provided with what is necessary; equipped; furnished.

    a beautifully appointed office.


Related Words

See furnish.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of appointed

First recorded in 1525–35; appoint + -ed 2

Explanation

To be appointed is to be given a task or job. If you're appointed as the week's doughnut fetcher at work, it means you've been assigned the job of bringing treats for everyone. You might be appointed for a small duty or for a large promotion, as when the gym teacher at school is unexpectedly appointed principal. Another way to use the adjective appointed is to mean "well furnished." Lovely homes and fancy hotels are often described as "well appointed" or "luxuriously appointed.

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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.

He was an old friend of Murrell and appointed him chief executive during his first spell as SNP leader in the early noughties.

From BBC • May 25, 2026

My friend’s sister, a retired police officer who claims to be a Christian, somehow managed to get herself appointed as the executor of their mother’s estate.

From MarketWatch • May 25, 2026

Jenny Gilruth, who was appointed to the dual role of deputy first minister and finance secretary on Wednesday, said the Scottish government had been "very upfront about the challenge we face".

From BBC • May 24, 2026

Gov. Bill Clements, the first Republican elected to statewide office in Texas since Reconstruction, appointed him to the Trinity River Authority, according to his obituary.

From Salon • May 23, 2026

She waited until the airports were reopened, the Post and Telegraphs up again, the military governors appointed to the regions.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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