1
as in to choose
to decide upon (the time or date for an event) usually from a position of authority
the designated time for the meeting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to appoint
to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty
he has yet to designate his successor as head of the firm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to name
to give a name to
he was designated "Air Jordan" by his fans
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 designate
The next year, in 2022, he was designated for assignment and the Seattle Mariners claimed him off of waivers.
—
Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
The team also selected the contract of lefty Brandon Leibrandt and designated right-hander Yunior Marte for assignment.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 1 June 2026
Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by a number of countries and entities, including the United States, Britain and the European Union.
—Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 1 June 2026
In addition to the pizzeria, Gruber said a portion of the building will be designated for their sister brand Moo Joe’s Ice Cream parlor.
—Linda Girardi, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for designate
Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
The team also selected the contract of lefty Brandon Leibrandt and designated right-hander Yunior Marte for assignment.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 1 June 2026
Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by a number of countries and entities, including the United States, Britain and the European Union.
—Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 1 June 2026
In addition to the pizzeria, Gruber said a portion of the building will be designated for their sister brand Moo Joe’s Ice Cream parlor.
—Linda Girardi, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for designate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for designate
Verb
-
Work with your veterinarian to choose what works best.—
Dr. John De Jong,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
-
Through Letterboxd, Gen Z is relying more on community reviews than those of official movie critics when choosing what movies to see in theaters.—
Sarah Whitten,
CNBC,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Squandering his Senate seniority and experience at this time, combined with his decision to appoint a newbie to replace him, should that opportunity arise, seems misguided at best and selfish at worst.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
-
If she is elected governor, Walz could appoint her successor.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Her work has been translated into more than thirty languages, and Time magazine named her one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
Wagyu steaks, seafood plucked fresh from nearby Toyosu Market, and delectable Hokkaido scallops to name a few of the superlative Japanese produce available.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
The Experimental Group set the bar in Paris—they've now got several other bars around town and in cities worldwide—so coming to the original might be up there with going to the Louvre for true cocktail lovers.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
-
Spanning Fresno, Kern, Kings and Tulare counties, the district has already drawn millions in spending and heavy national attention — setting the stage for another razor-thin, high-dollar general election fight this fall.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Manolo’s Bakery in east Charlotte was nominated in the Best Cake Shop category, placing it alongside bakeries from across the country.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
-
And yes, she’s currently nominated for a Tony Award for Fallen Angels.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Butlers here are called Aris Meehas, a historical Maldivian reference to someone assigned to serve royalty—thankfully, interactions are more easy-going than overly deferential.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
-
On one side were Carson’s years growing up in provincial Columbus, Georgia, and the succession of Southern towns to which her husband’s job had called them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
After the senate endorsement, delegates soldiered on to select Nate George as their preferred candidate for state auditor.—
Jay Gabler,
Twin Cities,
30 May 2026
-
Whichever lander ends up being selected for Artemis IV would rendezvous with NASA astronauts aboard an Orion vehicle in lunar orbit and then ferry them to the surface.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Clark works for the Fontana Police Department and was assigned in spring 2020 to work on cold cases with two detectives at the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
5 June 2026
-
The Lipoprotein Insulin Resistance (LP-IR) Test estimates the body’s response to insulin by analyzing patterns in blood fats and assigning a score from zero to 100.—
Samantha Agate,
Sacbee.com,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Designate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/designate. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
