nominate

[ verb nom-uh-neyt; adjective nom-uh-nit ]

/ verb ˈnɒm əˌneɪt; adjective ˈnɒm ə nɪt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR nominate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), nom·i·nat·ed, nom·i·nat·ing.

to propose (someone) for appointment or election to an office.

to appoint to a duty or office.

to propose for an honor, award, or the like.

Horse Racing. to register (a horse) as an entry in a race.

to name; designate.

Obsolete. to specify.

adjective

having a particular name.

Nearby words

Origin of nominate

1475–85; < Latin nōminātus (past participle of nōmināre to name, call by name), equivalent to nōmin- (stem of nōmen; see nomen) + -ātus -ate¹

SYNONYMS FOR nominate

1 pick, choose.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR nominate ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsnom·i·na·tor, nounre·nom·i·nate, verb (used with object), re·nom·i·nat·ed, re·nom·i·nat·ing.un·nom·i·nat·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for nominate

And they would, it seems, nominate any movie—no matter how inane—to get those big-name butts in the seats.
The Golden Globes Sobers Up (Sort Of): Years of Ridicule and Bribery Rumors Scares HFPA Straight|Marlow Stern|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Drama schools were visited; members of the public were allowed to nominate themselves.
How 'Gone With the Wind' Got Made|Helen Anders|September 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Stalwarts had bolted the Red Gym and were holding a shadow convention to nominate their own candidates at the opera house.
The GOP’s Last Identity Crisis Remade U.S. Politics|Michael Wolraich|July 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A federal agency simply has to “nominate” you if it has “reasonable suspicion”—which is slightly more than a hunch.
Oregon Judge Grounds the Federal No-Fly List—and It’s High Time|Dean Obeidallah|June 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

When President Barack Obama had to nominate justices to the Supreme Court, many liberals said they wanted a “liberal Scalia.”
The Outside Game of Justice Scalia, a Loner With Clout|David Fontana|June 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Intergrades between these two subspecies have been discussed in the account of the nominate subspecies.
Middle American Frogs of the Hyla microcephala Group|William E. Duellman
Mr Redmond demanded the right to nominate a committee of twenty-five "true-blue" supporters of his own policy.
Ireland Since Parnell|Daniel Desmond Sheehan
"Yes, true; we are about to nominate a municipal councillor," said Phellion, interrupting him.
The Lesser Bourgeoisie|Honore de Balzac
It was at last agreed that each party should nominate delegates to treat with the senate on this matter.
History of the Great Reformation, Volume IV|J. H. Merle D'Aubign
Bonaparte undertook to alter their constitution and nominate their Doge.
The Life of Napoleon I (Volumes, 1 and 2)|John Holland Rose

British Dictionary definitions for nominate

nominate

verb (ˈnɒmɪˌneɪt) (mainly tr)

to propose as a candidate, esp for an elective office

to appoint to an office or position

to name (someone) to act on one's behalf, esp to conceal one's identity

(intr) Australian to stand as a candidate in an election

archaic to name, entitle, or designate

adjective (ˈnɒmɪnɪt)

rare having a particular name

Derived Formsnominator, noun

Word Origin for nominate

C16: from Latin nōmināre to call by name, from nōmen name

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for nominate

nominate

1540s, "to call by name," back-formation from nomination or else from Latin nominatus, past participle of nominare "to name, call by name, give a name to," also "name for office,"" from nomen "name" (see name (n.)). Later "to appoint to some office or duty" (1560s); "to formally enter (someone) as a candidate for election" (c.1600). It also occasionally was used from c.1600 with a sense "give a name to." Related: Nominated; nominating.

nominate

verb (used with object), nom·i·nat·ed, nom·i·nat·ing.

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of nominate

Examples from the Web for nominate

British Dictionary definitions for nominate

nominate

verb (ˈnɒmɪˌneɪt) (mainly tr)

adjective (ˈnɒmɪnɪt)

Word Origin for nominate

Word Origin and History for nominate

nominate