designate

1 of 2

verb

des·​ig·​nate ˈde-zig-ˌnāt 

designated; designating

transitive verb

1

: to indicate and set apart for a specific purpose, office, or duty

designate someone to plan the party

land designated as a wildlife refuge

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 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

designative

ˈde-zig-ˌnā-tiv 

adjective

designator

ˈde-zig-ˌnā-tər 

noun

designatory

ˈde-zig-nə-ˌtȯr-ē 

adjective

designate

2 of 2

adjective

des·​ig·​nate ˈde-zig-ˌnāt 

-nət

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

ambassador designate

Synonyms of designate

Verb

• choose
• set
• select
• appoint
• pick
• specify
• name

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

The Rangers, who have no definitive closer, made official the signing of lefty reliever Jalen Beeks to a one-year deal on Friday, then designated for assignment the pitcher in camp with the most closing experience. —Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026

The University of Michigan and New York University also have designated housing for law students, but UT’s law school will be the first school or college on the Forty Acres to have a housing facility specifically tailored to its students. —Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026

Adjective

The litigation challenges specific budget provisions that diverted more than $1 billion in unclaimed funds to create an Ohio Cultural and Sports Facility Performance Grant Fund and designate $600 million for the Browns as its first grant. —CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026

Making his Ravinia debut, too, is CSO music director designate Klaus Mäkelä. —Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026

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

Phrases Containing designate

• designate as
• pre-designate

Rhymes for designate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

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