designate

adjective

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des·ig·nate | \ ˈde-zig-ˌnāt

, -nət \

Definition of designate

(Entry 1 of 2)

: chosen but not yet installed (see install sense 2a) ambassador designate

designate

verb

des·ig·nate | \ ˈde-zig-ˌnāt

designated; designating

Definition of designate (Entry 2 of 2)

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 battle

b : to distinguish as to class (see class entry 1 sense 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

Other Words from designate Synonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing designate Learn More About designate

Other Words from designate

Verb

designative \ ˈde-zig-ˌnā-tiv

\ adjective

designator \ ˈde-zig-ˌnā-tər

\ noun

designatory \ ˈde-zig-nə-ˌtȯr-ē

\ adjective

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: Adjective Others took aim at a law that allows council members to designate schools, libraries and other facilities as off-limits for camping. — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2022 Many of my clients designate sheets or clothes for tanning. — Jailynn Taylor, Essence, 3 June 2022 The development was on the agenda, but only for a vote to establish boundaries, prepare a redevelopment plan and designate land on Main Street as blighted. — Drew Dawson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 19 May 2022 Director of national intelligence nominee-designate Avril Haines also has a confirmation hearing scheduled for Friday and incoming veterans affairs secretary Denis McDonough for Jan. 27. — Naomi Lim, Washington Examiner, 14 Jan. 2021 Use art or mirrors on the walls to designate zones. — Kristin Tablang, House Beautiful, 9 May 2022 Cincinnati Public Schools Superintendent-designate Iranetta Wright is focused on four phases in her 100-day plan: engage, explore, evaluate and equip. — Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, 27 Apr. 2022 President-elect Joe Biden has chosen Democratic California Attorney General Xavier Becerra as his nominee-designate to head his Health and Human Services Department, a crucial post amid the COVID-19 pandemic. — Naomi Lim, Washington Examiner, 6 Dec. 2020 The lawmakers said there are times when Feinstein still appears sharp, like during last month's confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice-designate Ketanji Brown Jackson. — Nicholas Reimann, Forbes, 14 Apr. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Teams designate players to open a spot on their 40-man roster and usually add a new player. — Christopher Kuhagen, Journal Sentinel, 18 June 2022 To avoid this, companies should designate managers to facilitate LCNC development and help educate citizen developers about how the technology works, what tools the organization supports, and how to work with the larger IT organization. — Vishwastam Shukla, Forbes, 15 June 2022 Federal legislation should designate all medical clinics and hospitals as gun-free zones. — Brian Till, The New Republic, 6 June 2022 Also, Russia’s top prosecutor asked the country’s Supreme Court to designate Ukraine’s Azov Regiment — among the troops that made up the Azovstal garrison — as a terrorist organization. — Oleksandr Stashevskyi And Ciaran Mcquillan, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2022 Also, Russia’s top prosecutor asked the country’s Supreme Court to designate Ukraine’s Azov Regiment — among the troops that made up the Azovstal garrison — as a terrorist organization. — Oleksandr Stashevskyi, BostonGlobe.com, 18 May 2022 The news release did not designate a location for the venue, or indicate when it would be expected to open. — Noel Oman, Arkansas Online, 5 May 2022 Sponsors must designate specific refugees to assist. — Chris Cameron, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2022 One of the laws being challenged would designate Kentucky’s attorney general as the only statewide constitutional officer allowed to spend taxpayer funds on litigation challenging a bill’s constitutionality. — From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2022 See More

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.