designate

1 of 2

verb

des·​ig·​nate ˈde-zig-ˌnāt How to pronounce designate (audio)
designated; designating

transitive verb

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 valuesJ. B. Conant
c
: specify, stipulate
to be sent by a designated shipper
3
: denote
associate names with the people they designate
4
: to call by a distinctive title, term, or expression
a particle designated the neutron
designative adjective
designator noun
designatory adjective

designate

2 of 2

adjective

des·​ig·​nate ˈde-zig-ˌnāt How to pronounce designate (audio)
-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
Verb
Ann Arbor recently designated his home a historic site, and an effort is underway to name the local post office in his honor. Tom Stanton, Detroit Free Press, 23 Mar. 2024 Hunt has designated start times per age group: Ages 1-2 10 a.m., ages 3-4 at 10:30 a.m., ages 5-6 at 11 a.m. and ages 7-8 at 11:30 a.m. family-friendly DJ, crafts and Easter Bunny visits. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 22 Mar. 2024 In 1997, the U.S. designated Palestinian Islamic Jihad as a terrorist group. Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2024 But that may be changing: The Santa Barbara Channel was recently designated a Whale Heritage Area, one of just two such sites in the U.S. Michael Charboneau, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024 The Second Continental Congress on June 20, 1782, designated the bald eagle as the national emblem. Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 Walmart spokeswoman Kelsey Bohl said that during times of limited self-checkout access, some stores were designating select self-serve registers for Walmart+ members using the retailer’s Scan and Go app and for independent contractors who make deliveries and returns for the chain and other stores. Anne D'innocenzio, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2024 Rather than write with a pen or pencil, which Jews are prohibited from doing on Yom Kippur and the Sabbath, worshipers designated what to give by bending a perforated tab. Richard Sandomir, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024 Through all of this, the Forest Assisted Migration Project would recommend which young trees to plant where, designating them as green, yellow or red. Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024
Adjective
That's why some are turning to the public domain, a set of laws that designate when movies, artwork, music, and books become free to use. Michael Dobuski, ABC News, 30 Jan. 2024 Instead of using each of the three colors equally throughout the space, designate one as the star and consider the others supporting players, suggests Mark Lavender, a Chicago interior designer. Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023 House Republicans are now taking a secret ballot vote on whether Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio) should remain the speaker designate. WSJ, 20 Oct. 2023 States and cities have increased adaptation efforts in recent years, with projects to restore or buffer natural landscapes, manage floods, build sea walls, expand access to air conditioning, designate cooling centers and develop early warning systems for climate disasters. Chelsea Harvey, Scientific American, 14 Nov. 2023 As speaker designate, Johnson declined to take questions Tuesday night about his role in the attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, The New Republic, 27 Oct. 2023 The House rule established after the 9/11 attacks required House speakers to designate representatives to preside over the chamber in emergencies. Mary Bruce, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2023 There was a long and sustained ovation for Rep. Mike Johnson (R., La.) when Rep. Elise Stefanik (R., N.Y.) introduced him as speaker designate. WSJ, 25 Oct. 2023 Use bins or baskets to keep items contained and designate a spot for everything. Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'designate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb

Latin designatus, past participle of designare — see design entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Adjective

1629, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of designate was in 1596

Dictionary Entries Near designate

Cite this Entry

“Designate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/designate. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

designate

verb
des·​ig·​nate
ˈdez-ig-ˌnāt
designated; designating
1
: to appoint or choose by name for a special purpose
designate someone as team captain
2
: to mark or point out : indicate
3
: to call by name or title
Etymology

Verb

from Latin designatus, past participle of designare "to choose for a purpose," from de- "down, from" and signare "to mark, mark out, sign, stamp with a seal," from signum "mark, sign, image" — related to sign

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