appoint

verb

ap·​point ə-ˈpȯint How to pronounce appoint (audio)
appointed; appointing; appoints

transitive verb

1
a
: to fix or set officially
appoint a trial date
b
: to name officially
will appoint her director of the program
c
archaic : arrange
d
law : to determine the disposition of (an estate) to someone by virtue of a power of appointment
2
: to provide with complete and usually appropriate or elegant furnishings or equipment
appointed the rooms with a curated selection of art and furniture …Chron.com
a beautifully appointed room

intransitive verb

: to exercise a power of appointment
Choose the Right Synonym for appoint

furnish, equip, outfit, appoint, accoutre mean to supply one with what is needed.

furnish implies the provision of any or all essentials for performing a function.

a sparsely furnished apartment

equip suggests the provision of something making for efficiency in action or use.

a fully equipped kitchen

outfit implies provision of a complete list or set of articles as for a journey, an expedition, or a special occupation.

outfitted the family for a ski trip

appoint implies provision of complete and usually elegant or elaborate equipment or furnishings.

a lavishly appointed apartment

accoutre suggests the supplying of personal dress or equipment for a special activity.

fully accoutred members of a polar expedition

Examples of appoint in a Sentence

She was appointed professor of chemistry at the university. After his parents died, the boy's uncle was appointed as his guardian. Every year, the group appoints three new members. a committee appointed by Congress the company's newly appointed assistant director
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Trump appointed 237 federal judges during his first term, moving the federal judiciary sharply to the right. Tobi Raji The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 23 Nov. 2024 Ryan said the City Council had appointed a commission to study the charter and look into what could be adjusted to best suit the city’s needs. Vivien Ayers, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024 Now the Cupra brand is in talks with the Penske Automotive Group to enter the U.S. market by the end of the decade, with Cupra’s former German Managing Director already appointed as Cupra USA Managing Director. Michael Taylor, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024 The board also appointed Alesia Smith, formerly chief of schools, as deputy superintendent. Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, 22 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for appoint 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French appointer, from a- (from Latin ad-) + point point

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1c

Time Traveler
The first known use of appoint was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near appoint

Cite this Entry

“Appoint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appoint. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

appoint

verb
ap·​point ə-ˈpȯint How to pronounce appoint (audio)
1
: to decide on usually from a position of authority
the teacher appointed a time for our meeting
2
: to choose for some job or offices
I was appointed to wash the dishes
the school board appointed three new teachers
the president appoints a cabinet

Legal Definition

appoint

transitive verb
ap·​point ə-ˈpȯint How to pronounce appoint (audio)
1
: to name officially to a position
appointed to the agency's top post
appointed conservator of the estate
2
: to determine the distribution of (property) by exercising the authority granted by a power of appointment
a general power to appoint the corpus of a trustW. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.

intransitive verb

: to exercise a power of appointment see also power of appointment
appointive adjective
appointment noun

More from Merriam-Webster on appoint

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