appoint

[uh-point]

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.

verb (used without object)

1. Obsolete.,  to ordain; resolve; determine.

appoint

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• appointer noun
• appointable adjective
• misappoint verb (used with object)
• reappoint verb (used with object)
• unappointable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of appoint¹

1325–75; Middle English apointen, from Middle French apointer, equivalent to a- a- ⁵ + pointer “to point ”

Word History and Origins

Origin of appoint¹

C14: from Old French apointer to put into a good state, from a point in good condition, literally: to a _point

Synonym Study

See furnish.

Example Sentences

She pushed back and was appointed shadow first secretary of state among other titles.

From BBC

Would Sir Keir commit to appointing a new deputy leader to the position of deputy prime minister as well?

From BBC

And, just last week, he ousted the newly appointed director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention following disagreements over vaccine policy.

From Los Angeles Times

One judge, appointed by President Barack Obama, gave the courts some credit, while acknowledging that his fellow judges “are partially right to feel the way they feel.”

From Salon

Public health experts raised concerns about the qualifications of the members - several of whom are vaccine critics - appointed in their place.

From BBC

Related Words

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