designate

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adjective des·ig·nate \ ˈde-zig-ˌnāt , -nət \

Definition of designate

:chosen but not yet installed (see install 1b)

ambassador designate

See designate defined for English-language learners

Origin and Etymology of designate

Latin designatus, past participle of designare — see ¹design

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First Known Use: 1629

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designate

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verb des·ig·nate \ -ˌnāt \

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

2 a :to point out the location of

a marker designating the battle

b :to distinguish as to class (see ¹class 3)

the area we designate as that of spiritual values
—J. 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

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designative

play \-ˌnā-tiv\ adjective

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designator

play \-ˌnā-tər\ noun

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designatory

play \-nə-ˌtȯr-ē\ adjective

See designate defined for English-language learners

See designate defined for kids

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

A tropical wave making its way across the Atlantic will likely be designated a tropical depression or storm later this morning.

— jenny staletovich, miamiherald, "Atlantic storm expected to become tropical cyclone Wednesday morning," 30 Aug. 2017
Now, if an emergency arrived, the Royals could open a spot on the 40-man roster by designating a player for assignment.

— pete grathoff, kansascity, "Royals could only call up one pitcher when rosters expand — and he’s hurt," 30 Aug. 2017
Atlanta native Mitchell was certainly aware that her city’s symbol was the phoenix rising from the ashes (so designated in 1888, when Reconstruction had been finally vanquished and Jim Crow was being fully instituted).

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Yes, Gone With the Wind Is Another Neo-Confederate Monument," 30 Aug. 2017
Mary Ann Gerth/Courier-Journal/USA TODAY Network The Louisville Metro Council may review a decision designating a house on Blankenbaker Lane near Locust Grove in Indian Hills as a landmark.

— sheldon s. shafer, The Courier-Journal, "Is house near Locust Grove a landmark? Council may get involved in preservation fight," 23 Aug. 2017
These transactions are the ones that Robert Mueller’s team of investigators seems designated to unravel.

— craig unger, vanityfair.com, "Why Robert Mueller Has Trump SoHo in His Sights," 13 Aug. 2017
These transactions are the ones that Robert Mueller’s team of investigators seems designated to unravel.

— craig unger, The Hive, "Why Robert Mueller Has Trump SoHo in His Sights," 13 Aug. 2017
The group was very busy recently, performing 10 shows in 10 days right around the week of Aug. 1-7 — which has been designated as National Clown Week since President Richard Nixon first proclaimed it back in 1971.

— randall p. lieberman, Jewish Journal, "Group follows Jewish tradition of clowning," 11 Aug. 2017
Although previously discussed by the council's finance committee, the council on Tuesday voted 8-0 to defer any action on a plan to designate the entire city as a port district.

— gregory tejeda, Post-Tribune, "Gary council hosts hospital presentations," 9 Aug. 2017

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1596

See Words from the same year

designate Synonyms

Synonyms

appoint, fix, name, set

Antonyms

discharge, dismiss, expel, fire

Related Words

adopt, assign, choose, determine, establish, opt (for), pick, pin (down), prefer, select, settle, single (out), specify; arrange, coordinate, orchestrate; advertise, announce, declare, publish

Near Antonyms

blackball, depose, dethrone, displace, eject, evict, oust, overthrow, remove, throw out, uncrown, unmake, unseat

DESIGNATE Defined for English Language Learners

designate

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adjective

Definition of designate for English Language Learners

: chosen for a particular job but not officially doing that job yet

designate

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verb

Definition 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

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verb des·ig·nate \ ˈde-zig-ˌnāt \

Definition 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.