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
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
Troy Aidan Sambajon, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Apr. 2025
Trump has stepped up enforcement against transnational gangs, designating Tren de Aragua, MS-13 and six Mexican cartels as terrorist groups, citing murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking and other crimes.
—Andrew Goudsward and Ted Hesson, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
CBS News, 23 Mar. 2025
Trudeau also agreed to appoint a border czar and designate drug cartels as terrorist groups.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for designate
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Verb
Safety advocates have designated April as a month for awareness of low-head dams and their dangerous currents, which contribute to 50 drownings a year in the United States.
—Troy Aidan Sambajon, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Apr. 2025
Trump has stepped up enforcement against transnational gangs, designating Tren de Aragua, MS-13 and six Mexican cartels as terrorist groups, citing murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking and other crimes.
—Andrew Goudsward and Ted Hesson, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
The Bill of Rights doesn't specifically designate citizens.
—CBS News, 23 Mar. 2025
Trudeau also agreed to appoint a border czar and designate drug cartels as terrorist groups.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for designate
Cite this Entry
“Designate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/designate. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
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