Word
designate
Phoneticsdes·ig·nate, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdɛzəɡˌneɪt/
UK/dˈɛzɪɡnˌeɪt/
Definitions
01to choose for a role
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to officially choose someone for a specific job or position.
v. to officially appoint or select someone for a specific role or duty.
日本語:任命する※
“The committee will designate a new leader at the meeting tomorrow.”
“The board of directors moved to designate a temporary successor while the search for a permanent chief executive continued.”
02to mark for a purpose
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to mark or describe something so people know what it is for.
v. to specify or set something apart for a particular purpose or use.
日本語:指定する※
“This area is designated as a non-smoking zone.”
“The city council voted to designate the old warehouse as a protected historical landmark to prevent its demolition.”
03chosen but not yet started
C2 · Proficiency Formal · British English
adj. used after a job title to show someone has been chosen but has not started the work yet.
adj. denoting a person who has been appointed to a post but has not yet taken office.
“The director designate will take over the department next month.”
“As the bishop designate, he spent the weeks before his consecration meeting with local community leaders.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “designate” in context.
Verb
01. designate a successor
“The CEO has yet to designate a successor to take over the company.”
verb + noun
02. designate the building as a landmark
“The city council voted to designate the building as a historical landmark.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
03. formally designate the area
“The government will formally designate the area as a national park next month.”
adv + verb
Preposition
04. designate for use
“These parking spots are designated for use by disabled visitors only.”
verb + prep + noun
Adverb
05. officially designate the site
“They officially designated the site for the new hospital yesterday.”
adv + verb
06. specifically designate funds
“The donor specifically designated funds for the new library wing.”
adv + verb
Usage
The verb is transitive and often follows the pattern 'designate something as' or 'designate someone to do something'.
Real-World Examples
“Photograph: Bruna Prado/AP In recent months Trump has turned up the heat on Brazil, designating its two biggest organised crime groups, the Red Command and the PCC, as terrorist organisations.” “Many schools allow families to specify whom to contact first or designate different contacts for different situations.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin dēsignātus, perfect passive participle of designō, see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (verb-forming suffix). Doublet of design.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- 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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QR code
englishreference.com/q/designate
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0