Designate: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when formally choosing someone or something for a specific role or purpose.

• The board will designate a new chairman at the next meeting
• He was designated as team leader

Common in official or formal contexts, especially within organizational or governmental structures.

• The President will appoint a new ambassador
• She was appointed as the head of the department

Used when choosing someone or something from a larger group, generally implying a careful choice.

• The committee will select the best candidate for the job
• She was selected to participate in the competition

Used when giving someone or something a specific name or when identifying someone for a role.

• The parents decided to name their baby Emma
• He named Jane as his successor

Used when giving someone a specific task or role to complete.

• The teacher will assign homework to the students
• He was assigned to complete the project by Friday

Used when attaching a descriptive word or phrase to something or someone, often categorically.

• Be careful not to label people too quickly
• She labeled the boxes according to their contents