Word
appoint
Phoneticsap·point, stress on the second syllable
US/əˈpɔɪnt/
UK/ɐpˈɔɪnt/
Definitions
01to choose for a job
B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal
v. to officially choose someone for a job or a position of responsibility.
v. to assign a person to a post, office, or role by authority. Transitive, taking a direct object often followed by 'as' or 'to'.
“The board decided to appoint a new director to lead the project.”
“The prime minister intends to appoint a seasoned diplomat to the vacant embassy post in hopes of stabilizing regional relations.”
Usage
Often used in the passive voice: 'She was appointed as chairperson.'
02to fix a time or place
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to decide on a specific time or place for something to happen.
v. to determine or fix a time or place for an event by authority or agreement.
“The court will appoint a date for the hearing next week.”
“The committee has yet to appoint a specific venue for the international summit, citing ongoing security concerns.”
Usage
Commonly used in legal or official administrative contexts.
03to furnish or equip
C1 · Advanced Literary · Formal
v. to provide a room or building with furniture and equipment.
v. to furnish or equip a place completely with necessary fittings. Frequently encountered as the past-participial adjective 'appointed'.
“The hotel rooms were beautifully appointed with antique furniture.”
“The library was sumptuously appointed with dark oak shelving and leather-bound volumes, reflecting the wealth of its original owner.”
Teaching tip
In modern English, this sense is almost exclusively seen in the form 'well-appointed' to describe high-quality rooms or houses.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “appoint” in context.
Verb
01. appoint someone to a post
“The board decided to appoint her to the post of Chief Executive immediately.”
verb + noun + prep
02. fail to appoint
“The committee failed to appoint a successor before the deadline passed.”
verb + infinitive
03. formally appoint
“The governor will formally appoint the new judge during tomorrow's ceremony.”
adv + verb
Noun
04. failure to appoint
“The failure to appoint a new director led to significant administrative delays.”
noun + infinitive
05. power to appoint
“The President has the constitutional power to appoint federal judges.”
noun + infinitive
Preposition
06. at the appointed time
“All candidates must arrive at the appointed time for their interviews.”
prep + noun
07. in an appointed capacity
“He served in an appointed capacity rather than as an elected official.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“After the chief executive, José Ángel Sánchez, was said to have led the charge to appoint Xabi Alonso last summer, the 79-year-old club president has made the decision his own this time.” “If a winning country is found unable to host the contest, the EBU will appoint another host nation.” Etymology
From Middle English apointen, borrowed from Old French apointier (“to prepare, arrange, lean, place”) (French appointer (“to give a salary, refer a cause”)), from Late Latin appunctō (“to bring back to the point, restore, to fix the point in a controversy, or the points in an agreement”); Latin ad + punctum (“a point”). See point.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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