Appoint

/əˈpɔɪnt/

verbBeginnerCommonGeneral

Definitions

1

To officially assign someone to a job, role, or position.

/əˈpɔɪnt/

verbneutralBeginner
General

To assign a job or position to someone.

The committee appointed a new chair.

💡 Simply: To give someone a job.

More Examples

2

She was appointed to the board of directors.

How It's Used

Business

"The CEO appointed a new marketing director."

Government

"The president appointed a new Supreme Court justice."

Idioms & expressions

appoint someone to a position

To formally assign someone to a specific job or role.

"The company appointed John to the position of CEO."

From Old French *apointer, from Latin *appunctare, from ad- 'to' + punctare 'to prick, to point'. The sense evolved from 'to mark a point' to 'to assign a position or task'.

The word's use has remained relatively consistent throughout history, focusing on formal assignment of roles.

Memory tip

Think of 'pointing' someone to a specific role.

appoitapointappointh

Usage

30%Spoken
70%Written