des·ig·nate
ˈde-zig-ˌnāt 
designated; designating
1
: to indicate and set apart for a specific purpose, office, or duty
designate a group to prepare a plan
2
a
: to point out the location of
a marker designating the battle
b
: to distinguish as to class (see class entry 1 sense 3)
the area we designate as that of spiritual values—
J. B. Conant
J. B. Conant3
: denote
associate names with the people they designate
4
: to call by a distinctive title, term, or expression
a particle designated the neutron
des·ig·nate
ˈde-zig-ˌnāt
-nət
: chosen but not yet installed (see install sense 2a)
ambassador designate
Synonyms
Examples of designate in a Sentence
Verb
The wooden stakes designate the edge of the building site.
the designated time for the meeting
Recent Examples on the Web
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 28 Nov. 2024
State biologists had also recommended against designating the western Joshua tree as threatened, saying concerns about the effects of climate change were premature.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2024
Elizabeth Brownfield, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024
North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly, which met over two days last week, had been expected to amend the constitution to officially designate South Korea as a separate country and a main enemy.
—Reuters, NBC News, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for designate 
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Verb
President Abraham Lincoln in 1864 designated the last Thursday of November for a day of Thanksgiving.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 28 Nov. 2024
State biologists had also recommended against designating the western Joshua tree as threatened, saying concerns about the effects of climate change were premature.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Healthier Habit To avoid cross-contamination, designate one sponge for each purpose.
—Elizabeth Brownfield, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024
North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly, which met over two days last week, had been expected to amend the constitution to officially designate South Korea as a separate country and a main enemy.
—Reuters, NBC News, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for designate
Dictionary Entries Near designate
Cite this Entry
“Designate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/designate. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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