nominate

American  

[nom-uh-neyt, nom-uh-nit] / ˈnɒm əˌneɪt, ˈnɒm ə nɪt /

verb (used with object)

nominated, nominating

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

   Synonyms:

   choose, pick

2. to appoint to a duty or office.

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

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

5. to name; designate.

6. Obsolete. to specify.

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adjective

1. having a particular name.

nominate British  

verb

1. to propose as a candidate, esp for an elective office

2. to appoint to an office or position

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

4. (intr) to stand as a candidate in an election

5. archaic to name, entitle, or designate

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adjective

1. rare having a particular name

Other Word Forms

• nominator
  noun
• renominate
  verb (used with object)
• unnominated
  adjective

Etymology

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 -ate ¹

Explanation

When you suggest a person for a position in the government, or propose a theme for your school's prom, you nominate that person or idea, especially if it's done in an official way. In the United States, political parties hold primary elections and conventions to nominate candidates for president. The word nominate originally meant "to call by name," from the Latin word for "name," nomen , but by 1600 it began to be used to talk about politics.

Example Sentences

Under current rules, 80 MPs would have to nominate a specific opponent, which would then trigger a leadership election lasting weeks or months, conducted among the 350,000 or so registered Labour Party members.

From Salon • May 12, 2026

Reform MS Llŷr Powell told BBC Wales that Reform Senedd members would nominate their leader, Dan Thomas, to be first minister.

From BBC • May 10, 2026

The agreement also gives Beretta the right to nominate up to two independent directors following Ruger’s annual meeting this year.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

Then: “If he chooses to nominate somebody else and asks me to go do something else, I will say, ‘Thank you very much.

From Slate • Apr. 11, 2026

“I—I wanted to know why you didn’t think to nominate me for the study abroad program.”

From "Piecing Me Together" by Renée Watson

Related Words

• appoint
• assign
• choose
• decide
• draft
• elect
• elevate
• name
• present
• propose
• recommend
• submit
• suggest
• tap