designate

1 of 2

verb

des·​ig·​nate ˈde-zig-ˌnāt 

designated; designating

transitive verb

1

: to indicate and set apart for a specific purpose, office, or duty

designate a group to prepare a plan

2

a

: to point out the location of

a marker designating the battle

b

: to distinguish as to class (see class entry 1 sense 3)

the area we designate as that of spiritual values

—J. B. Conant

c

: specify, stipulate

to be sent by a designated shipper

3

: denote

associate names with the people they designate

4

: to call by a distinctive title, term, or expression

a particle designated the neutron

designative

ˈde-zig-ˌnā-tiv 

adjective

designator

ˈde-zig-ˌnā-tər 

noun

designatory

ˈde-zig-nə-ˌtȯr-ē 

adjective

designate

2 of 2

adjective

des·​ig·​nate ˈde-zig-ˌnāt 

-nət

: chosen but not yet installed (see install sense 2a)

ambassador designate

Synonyms

Verb

• appoint
• fix
• name
• set

Examples of designate in a Sentence

Verb

The wooden stakes designate the edge of the building site.

the designated time for the meeting

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

For years, local officials pressed the federal government to adopt Denali since Alaska officially designated it as the mountain peak's name in 1975. —Gord Magill, Newsweek, 22 Dec. 2024

Because of his age, however, Sasaki has been designated an amateur international free agent and can sign only a minor league contract, rendering Steve Cohen’s deep pockets moot. —Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 21 Dec. 2024

Adjective

The ratings designate Top Safety Pick vehicles and the highest rating: Top Safety Pick+ winners. —Sasha Lekach, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

Three days after the Berliners vacated Carnegie, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, another indisputably world-class ensemble, arrived to play two concerts under Klaus Mäkelä, its twenty-eight-year-old chief conductor designate. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb

Latin designatus, past participle of designare — see design entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Adjective

1629, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing designate

• designate as
• pre-designate

Kids Definition

designate

verb

des·​ig·​nate

ˈdez-ig-ˌnāt

designated; designating

1

: to appoint or choose by name for a special purpose

designate someone as team captain

2

: to mark or point out : indicate

3

: to call by name or title

Etymology

Verb

from Latin designatus, past participle of designare "to choose for a purpose," from de- "down, from" and signare "to mark, mark out, sign, stamp with a seal," from signum "mark, sign, image" — related to sign