assign

1
as in to task
to give a task, duty, or responsibility to assigned the class with the task of finding something in the state constitution they felt needed changing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word assign different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of assign are ascribe, attribute, credit, and impute. While all these words mean "to lay something to the account of a person or thing," assign implies ascribing with certainty or after deliberation.

assigned the bones to the Cretaceous period

In what contexts can ascribe take the place of assign?

The synonyms ascribe and assign are sometimes interchangeable, but ascribe suggests an inferring or conjecturing of cause, quality, authorship.

forged paintings formerly ascribed to masters

How is attribute related to other words for assign?

Attribute suggests less tentativeness than ascribe, less definiteness than assign.

attributed to Rembrandt but possibly done by an associate

Where would credit be a reasonable alternative to assign?

In some situations, the words credit and assign are roughly equivalent. However, credit implies ascribing a thing or especially an action to a person or other thing as its agent, source, or explanation.

credited his teammates for his success

When is it sensible to use impute instead of assign?

While in some cases nearly identical to assign, impute suggests ascribing something that brings discredit by way of accusation or blame.

tried to impute sinister motives to my actions

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of assign Traders are assigning just a 23% probability to a move at the meeting, with a likelihood of about 78% that the Fed will cut in September, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch gauge measuring futures market pricing. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 23 June 2025 Two of the four spots assigned to this mission were reassigned to SpaceX Crew-11. Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 June 2025 Beyond the allegation that ONE, in the pursuit of profit, illegally gave up space that should have been assigned to QVC and Cornerstone, the companies also alleged that the freight company charged unjust demurrage and detention fees. Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 20 June 2025 Frank assigns each of his assistants with around six players to look after. Jay Harris, New York Times, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for assign
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assign
Verb
  • Quinn and others have spent time with the man tasked with protecting Daniels’ blindside since the shocking trade with the Houston Texans in March.
    Ben Standig, New York Times, 19 June 2025
  • In Emilia Pérez, a Spanish-language musical and crime drama, Saldaña portrays Rita, a lawyer who is tasked with helping the movie's titular character (Karla Sofía Gascón) obtain a gender-affirming surgery to escape life as a cartel boss.
    Catherine Santino, People.com, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • For a three-year period, through the next fiscal year, California has been allotted funding worth more than $18.2 million, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
    Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
  • Differing budget plans passed by the state House and Senate this year both would start allotting sports betting tax revenue to the athletic programs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University.
    David A. Lieb, Twin Cities, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • That’s because the SLAM academy is legally a public school, though run privately, which clears the way for the city to cede property to it.
    Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 26 June 2025
  • Four months after fans of the James Bond franchise decried the deal struck between Amazon MGM with producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson to cede creative control of the 007 franchise, hope has arrived in the form of famed director Denis Villeneuve.
    Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Different Term Limits For Senate Members SB 37 sets different term limits for faculty senate members, depending on whether they were elected or presidentially appointed.
    Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • The president campaigned in 2024 on the promise of mass deportations and appointed Tom Homan as his administration's border czar to execute his agenda.
    Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025
Verb
  • Second, do your best to fulfill the things you are entrusted with.
    Arar Han, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
  • That is after the team’s relievers began the season protecting the first 22 leads with which they were entrusted.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 June 2025
Verb
  • Boston Consulting Group found that leading companies are allocating a large portion of their AI investments to reshaping core functions and inventing new offerings.
    Mark A. Cohen, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
  • For comparison, gold accounted for only 19% of total reserves, with 15% allocated in euros and 2% in Chinese renminbi.
    Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • Lessons learned on a tower in New York don’t always transfer to a mid-rise in Phoenix.
    Michael Pink, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
  • The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will decide where to transfer the 13 sea turtles — potential new locations include Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach and Zoo Miami.
    Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • Neither Allen nor Thomas has been nominated for an Oscar.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
  • She was chosen for the post after being nominated by social studies teacher Mr. Tazic.
    Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Assign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assign. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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