appoint
B1Formal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
To choose someone for a job or position of responsibility.
To decide or arrange a time or place for something to happen; to officially decide the equipment, furniture, or style of something (archaic/formal).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a transitive verb. Implies official or formal selection with authority. Often used in passive voice ('was appointed').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. British usage may more commonly appear in formal/official contexts (e.g., 'Appointed Actuary'). The adjective 'appointed' (as in 'well-appointed') is equally formal in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries connotations of authority, official decision-making, and formality in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar high frequency in formal, business, and administrative contexts in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[S] appoint [O] (as) [C][S] appoint [O] to [position][S] appoint [O] to [infinitive clause]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a power appointed from above”
- “well-appointed (for rooms)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Formal process of assigning someone to a role: 'The board will appoint a new CEO next quarter.'
Academic
Used in discussions of governance, history, or institutional processes: 'The committee was appointed to review the ethical guidelines.'
Everyday
Less common; used for official roles: 'They appointed Sarah as the team leader.'
Technical
Legal/administrative: 'The court appointed a guardian for the estate.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The trustees will appoint a new chairperson.
- We need to appoint a time for the next review.
- The Prime Minister appointed her to the Cabinet.
American English
- The company appointed an external auditor.
- They appointed a committee to investigate the matter.
- He was appointed as the project lead.
adverb
British English
- The action was appointedly deliberate. (Very rare/archaic)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form in common use)
adjective
British English
- The ambassador's well-appointed residence was impressive.
- At the appointed hour, the ceremony began.
American English
- She waited in the luxuriously appointed lounge.
- The contract specifies the appointed representative.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The school appointed a new teacher.
- They appointed a team captain.
- The manager appointed him as his assistant.
- We need to appoint someone to organise the party.
- Following the merger, a new finance director was appointed.
- The committee has the power to appoint external advisors.
- The board unanimously appointed her to spearhead the new initiative, citing her unparalleled expertise.
- He was appointed to the role not through patronage but on sheer merit.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a POINTed finger choosing someone for a job. AP-POINT: A Person POINTed at for a position.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS THE ABILITY TO PLACE PEOPLE IN POSITIONS.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить как 'назначать встречу' (лучше: to arrange/schedule/fix a meeting).
- Основное значение связано с должностями, а не временем.
- Избегать кальки 'аппойнтмент' для встречи — правильно 'appointment'.
Common Mistakes
- He was appointed as the manager. (Correct but 'as' is optional.)
- We appointed a meeting for 3 PM. (Incorrect. Use 'arranged' or 'scheduled'.)
- They appointed him for the job. (Incorrect preposition. Use 'to' or 'as'.)
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is the word 'appoint' used correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, for roles/jobs. Archaically/ formally it can be used for things ('a well-appointed room'). For arranging times, 'schedule' or 'arrange' is more common.
No, it's optional. 'They appointed her (as) manager.' Both are correct, though omitting 'as' is slightly more formal.
'Appoint' is a final, official decision for a position. 'Nominate' is to propose/suggest someone for a position (the decision comes later). 'Assign' is to give someone a task or duty, not necessarily a formal title.
Yes, very frequently. 'She was appointed to the committee.' The passive is common because the focus is often on the person chosen, not the chooser.