appoint

verb

ə-ˈpȯint How to pronounce appoint (audio)
Definition of appointnext
1
as in to set
to decide upon (the time or date for an event) usually from a position of authority at the appointed hour we were in our places

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to nominate
to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty was appointed to the council on national security

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb appoint contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of appoint are accoutre, equip, furnish, and outfit. While all these words mean "to supply one with what is needed," appoint implies provision of complete and usually elegant or elaborate equipment or furnishings.

a lavishly appointed apartment

When is it sensible to use accoutre instead of appoint?

While the synonyms accoutre and appoint are close in meaning, accoutre suggests the supplying of personal dress or equipment for a special activity.

fully accoutred members of a polar expedition

In what contexts can equip take the place of appoint?

The words equip and appoint can be used in similar contexts, but equip suggests the provision of something making for efficiency in action or use.

a fully equipped kitchen

When can furnish be used instead of appoint?

While in some cases nearly identical to appoint, furnish implies the provision of any or all essentials for performing a function.

a sparsely furnished apartment

Where would outfit be a reasonable alternative to appoint?

The synonyms outfit and appoint are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of appoint The March 13 preliminary injunction from Alsup, who was appointed by former President Bill Clinton, applied to probationary employees at the U.S. Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Energy, Interior and Treasury. —Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025 Naumann became administrator of the Archdiocese of St. Louis in 2003, and was appointed as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas in 2005. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2025 The court could appoint a Consumer Privacy Ombudsman to ensure privacy concerns are addressed in the bankruptcy proceedings. —Abigail Dubiniecki, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025 In 2005, then-Gov. Blunt appointed Martin chairman of the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners, then hired him in 2006 as his chief of staff. —Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for appoint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appoint
  1. set
  2. nominate
  3. choose
  4. assign
  5. designate
  6. constitute
  7. select
  8. pick
Verb
  • But 63% of the company’s apparel and accessories products are manufactured in Jordan, Vietnam, Cambodia or Indonesia; Trump had initially set tariff rates of 20%, 46%, 49% and 32%, respectively, on those nations.
    — Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Moira disappears after setting the lab on fire, leading to what soon becomes the show’s deadliest call yet.
    — Andy Swift, TVLine, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of set
Verb
  • And nominated again the year before that, and two other times as well.
    — Marco della Cava, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025
  • He also has been nominated for five Golden Globes without a win.
    — Marco della Cava, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of nominate
Verb
  • Before agreeing to leave the show, Rourke faced the possibility of being the first contestant to be evicted from the CBB UK house this season, after Siwa was given a special power to choose one housemate to automatically face the public vote.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 13 Apr. 2025
  • There was doubt as to whether he would be chosen again to play against Dortmund only four days later.
    — Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of choose
Verb
  • Instead, each garment or accessory is assigned one or two points.
    — Marilú Almaguer, Glamour, 10 Apr. 2025
  • In addition to visas, international students are assigned records in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS.
    — Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of assign
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
Definition of designate
Verb
  • Anthony also allegedly asked the officer if what had happened constituted self-defense.
    — Liam Quinn, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • These organizations constitute a growing enterprise AI market.
    — Clint Boulton, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of constitute
Verb
  • Fees Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected.
    — Elizabeth Gravier, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2025
  • By Quispe López April 8, 2025 All products are independently selected by our editors.
    — Quispe López, Them., 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of select
Verb
  • Van Lith was picked in the first round by the Chicago Sky.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Throughout the week, The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler, Joe Smith and Jeremy Rutherford were on site and picked the players’ brains about, well, each other.
    — Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of pick

Browse Nearby Words

apply (to)
appoint
appointed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Appoint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appoint. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on appoint

Nglish: Translation of appoint for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)
See More

Popular

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name that thing flower edition
Name That Flower Can you tell the difference between a lilac and a...
See All