appoint

UK: /əˈpɔɪnt/ US: /əˈpɔɪnt/ ,(ə point′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ap•point /əˈpɔɪnt/   v. [~ + object]

1. Government to name or assign officially: [~ + object + object]
   appointed him chairman.
   [~ + object + to + object]
   They appointed him to the position of chairman.
2. to fix;
   set:
   to appoint a time for the meeting.
3. to equip;
   furnish:
   They appointed the house luxuriously.

See -point-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ap•point  (ə point′), v.t. 

1. Government to name or assign to a position, an office, or the like;
   designate:
   to appoint a new treasurer; to appoint a judge to the bench.
2. to determine by authority or agreement;
   fix;
   set:
   to appoint a time for the meeting.
3. Law to designate (a person) to take the benefit of an estate created by a deed or will.
4. to provide with what is necessary;
   equip;
   furnish:
   They appointed the house with all the latest devices.
5. [Archaic.] to order or establish by decree or command;
   ordain;
   constitute:
   laws appointed by God.
6. [Obs.] to point at by way of censure.

v.i. 

7. [Obs.] to ordain;
   resolve;
   determine.

• Middle French apointer, equivalent. to a- a-⁵ + pointer to point
• Middle English apointen 1325–75

ap•point′a•ble, adj. 
ap•point′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. choose, select.
• 2. prescribe, establish.

Antonyms

• 1. dismiss, discharge.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

appoint / əˈpɔɪnt/ verb (mainly tr)

1. (also intr) to assign officially, as for a position, responsibility, etc
2. to establish by agreement or decree; fix
3. to prescribe or ordain: laws appointed by tribunal
4. to nominate (a person), under a power granted in a deed or will, to take an interest in property
5. to equip with necessary or usual features; furnish: a well-appointed hotel

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French apointer to put into a good state, from a point in good condition, literally: to a point

apˈpointer noun