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

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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 Last year, Ellison appointed new leadership at CBS News that has revamped programming in ways that some insiders view as more sympathetic to Trump and his movement. —Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026 Anuj Girdhar was appointed CFO of Sunkist Growers, Inc. —Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 15 May 2026 In 2011, she was appointed CEO of UnitedHealthcare. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 May 2026 Attorney Jake Fendley was appointed to represent Eatherly at the hearing. —Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 15 May 2026 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
  • The sounds grew louder, and soon armed and masked men were swarming the village, setting its straw huts on fire and indiscriminately shooting villagers.
    — Annie Hylton, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
  • Lu remains free on bond until his sentencing, a date for which has not yet been set.
    — John Annese, New York Daily News, 14 May 2026
Definition of set
Verb
  • But perhaps Powell will be best remembered as a target – of angry tweets, speeches, and ultimately a criminal investigation, by the very president who nominated him in the first place.
    — Kenny Malone, NPR, 15 May 2026
  • Chet’la Sebree is the author of Blue Opening, Field Study, winner of the James Laughlin Award from the Academy of American Poets, and Mistress, selected by Cathy Park Hong as the winner of the New Issues Poetry Prize and nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work-Poetry.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 May 2026
Definition of nominate
Verb
  • Customers choose a few of the distillery’s popular bourbons, which are sold around the state now, as well as Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
    — Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
  • Drivers can reduce their risk by comparing pumps for mismatched parts, using pumps near the store, and choosing tap-to-pay, mobile wallets, or credit cards instead of debit cards when possible.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
Definition of choose
Verb
  • Under current law the Legislature cannot, merely by passing a bill, grant to the attorney general prosecutorial authority that the Texas constitution expressly assigns to district attorneys.
    — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
  • Commencing an investigation, Bernal unwittingly assigns Dahlia and his nephew Charlie, an ex-cop and Dahlia’s ex-lover, leading to a fraught reunion.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
Definition of assign
Verb
  • The policy meant the top biological female finishers were designated co-champions, leading to widespread images of Hernandez sharing the top step of the medal podium with female athletes.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
  • The Twins also designated reliever Justin Topa for assignment and recalled Travis Adams.
    — Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 19 May 2026
Definition of designate
Verb
  • The five-star analyst noted that server CPU business grew by more than 50% year-over-year across enterprise and cloud, mainly driven by units with a higher average selling price, as Turin constituted over half of the mix.
    — TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 17 May 2026
  • The insula, in particular, organizes and coordinates the withdrawal response, facial expression and visceral sensations that together constitute a full disgust reaction.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
Definition of constitute
Verb
  • All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026
  • Dieperink, a Dutchman who had been selected as a VAR official for this summer’s tournament, has said the Metropolitan Police has closed the case, meaning no charges will be brought.
    — Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Definition of select
Verb
  • The attorney general will pick who disburses money from the fund and the president can remove any of those people, according to the DOJ.
    — Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 19 May 2026
  • This is as important, and as boring, in theory, as picking a fund for your 401(k), yet, improbably, the draft has become one of the largest events on the sporting calendar.
    — Dan Greene, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
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 21 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on appoint

Nglish: Translation of appoint for Spanish Speakers

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