Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
Origin and Etymology of designate
Latin designatus, past participle of designare —see 1design
Definition of designate
designated
;designating
transitive verb
1 : to indicate and set apart for a specific purpose, office, or duty designate a group to prepare a plan
2a : to point out the location of a marker designating the battleb : to distinguish as to class (see 1class 3) the area we designate as that of spiritual values — J. B. Conantc : 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
Examples of designate in a Sentence
The wooden stakes designate the edge of the building site.
the designated time for the meeting
Recent Examples of designate from the Web
-
Leisring said the music store idea evolved from his discussions with the building owners and Cincinnati USA Music Heritage Foundation, which operates the music studio and was instrumental in having the building designated a historic landmark.
-
Culberson initially supported Smith’s efforts to designate funding for each research directorate (rather than only for the entire research account), and to disfavor the social sciences and climate research.
-
The other space will be a designated to-go area and catering section.
-
The games will require some personnel assistance from local government on security and traffic, as well as from the Department of Homeland Security, since the games will be designated a National Special Security Event.
-
The U.K.'s Glastonbury festival and Michigan's Electric Forest festival both designated women-only areas starting last year.
-
INSIDE PITCH After the game, the Yankees designated first baseman Chris Carter for assignment for the second time in 11 days.
-
Alabama auditor and potential 2018 gubernatorial candidate Jim Zeigler is criticizing Gov. Kay Ivey's relatively late decision to designate Monday as a state holiday, along with Tuesday July 4.
-
The new law requires companies to have designated competent executives in Germany itself.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'designate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of designate
see 1designate
DESIGNATE Defined for English Language Learners
designate
playDefinition of designate for English Language Learners
-
: chosen for a particular job but not officially doing that job yet
designate
playDefinition of designate for English Language Learners
-
: to officially choose (someone or something) to do or be something : to officially give (someone or something) a particular role or purpose
-
: to call (something or someone) by a particular name or title
-
: to be used as a name for (something or someone)
DESIGNATE Defined for Kids
designate
playDefinition of designate for Students
designated
;designating
1 : to appoint or choose for a special purpose They designated a leader.
2 : to call by a name or title Let's designate this angle of the triangle a.
3 : to mark or point out : indicate These lines designate the boundaries.
Word Root of designate
The Latin word signum, meaning “mark” or “indication,” gives us the root sign. Words from the Latin signum have something to do with marks, signs, or indications. A sign is a move of the hand that indicates something to others. To designate is to mark someone or something for a special purpose. A signal is an indication that an action should begin.
Learn More about designate
-
See words that rhyme with designate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for designate Spanish Central: Translation of designate Nglish: Translation of designate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of designate for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up designate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!