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
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.
Verb
President Abraham Lincoln in 1864 designated the last Thursday of November for a day of Thanksgiving. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 28 Nov. 2024 State biologists had also recommended against designating the western Joshua tree as threatened, saying concerns about the effects of climate change were premature. Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2024
Adjective
The artistic director designate of the National Theatre, the first woman and the first person of color ever to be appointed to the most important position in British theater, is talking about her father, who died 14 years ago. Sarah Crompton, Vogue, 20 Nov. 2024 Other provisions pin down how states designate electors, in order to eliminate the possibility of fakes crashing the Electoral College. The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for designate 

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 10 Dec. 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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