English Reference
verb · adjective

assigned

v. · adj.
US /əˈsaɪnd/ UK /ɐsˈaɪnd/ as·signed

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    v.to give someone a specific job, duty, or piece of work to complete.

    v.to allocate a task or duty to a person or group. Transitive; typically takes a direct object (the task) and an indirect object (the person).

    Simple

    The teacher assigned a long essay to the class for the weekend.

    In context

    The project manager assigned the most technical components of the software build to the senior developers to ensure stability.

    Usage

    Often used in the pattern 'assign something to someone' or 'assign someone something'.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.to decide that someone has a particular role or that something belongs in a certain place.

    v.to designate or appoint someone to a particular position, or to attribute a specific place or value to something.

    Simple

    They assigned him to the London office for six months.

    In context

    The diplomat was assigned to the embassy in Cairo during a period of significant regional transition.

    Usage

    Commonly used in the passive voice when referring to job placements.

  3. 03 B1 Intermediate

    adj.describes something that has been chosen for a particular person or use.

    adj.referring to something that has been specifically allocated or designated. Often used in attributive position before a noun.

    Simple

    Please sit in your assigned seat before the show starts.

    In context

    Each participant was required to stay within their assigned budget to prevent the project from becoming financially unviable.

    unassignedrandom

The Public Defender’s Office said earlier in the day that she had not yet been assigned a lawyer.

Al Jazeera· 14 Aug 2026

Men were randomly assigned to conditions that described the woman in the vignette as bisexual or straight.

Phys.org· 13 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated