designate
adjective
des·ig·nate
| \ ˈde-zig-ˌnāt
, -nət\
, -nət\
Definition of designate
(Entry 1 of 2)
: chosen but not yet installed (see install sense 1b)
ambassador designate
designate
verb
des·ig·nate
| \ ˈde-zig-ˌnāt
\
\
designated;
designating
Definition of designate (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: to indicate and set apart for a specific purpose, office, or duty
designate a group to prepare a plan
2a
: 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
3
: denote
associate names with the people they designate
4
: to call by a distinctive title, term, or expression
a particle designated the neutron
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Other Words from designate
Verb
designative
\ ˈde-zig-ˌnā-tiv
\
adjective
\
adjective
designator
\ ˈde-zig-ˌnā-tər
\
noun
\
noun
designatory
\ ˈde-zig-nə-ˌtȯr-ē
\
adjective
\
adjective
Examples of designate in a Sentence
Verb
The wooden stakes designate the edge of the building site. the designated time for the meetingRecent Examples on the Web: Adjective
Ratti and his team created a series of wooden modules that are embedded with lights that could help direct vehicle and pedestrian traffic, as well as designate bike lanes or hazard zones. — Liz Stinson, Curbed, "Futuristic road concept is made of reconfigurable parts that light up," 6 Aug. 2018 Although rediscovered only in 2013 near the town of Pamukkale — famous for its surreal, Unesco-designate travertine hot spring terraces — the cave’s existence has been known since antiquity as part of what was then Hierapolis. — Time, "Animals Dropped Dead Inside Roman 'Gate to Hell.' Scientists Just Figured Out Why," 22 Feb. 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
In 2014, The Rocks was designated an American viticultural area, a sub-region of the 2,000-acre Walla Walla Valley AVA. — Washington Post, "Like wine from France’s Rhone Valley? Head to Walla Walla," 10 Sep. 2019 Officials also designated Honduras and Nicaragua for TPS in the late 1990s after Hurricane Mitch hit. — Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN, "Bahamas residents are fleeing Dorian's devastation. Here's how the US has treated migrants escaping past disasters," 9 Sep. 2019 The City Council electoral districts are designated on the map appended to this charter amendment and made part hereof. — Sharon Coolidge, Cincinnati.com, "Should some Cincinnati council seats be elected by district? These citizens think so.," 8 Sep. 2019 Opened by Sid Grauman in 1922, the iconic Egyptian Theater has been designated a Los Angeles historic-cultural monument and is one of the few remaining repertory theaters in the city the film business calls home. — Los Angeles Times, "Newsletter: Essential California Week in Review: Safety flaws aboard the Conception," 7 Sep. 2019 Half Dome was designated a wilderness area in 1964, after the summit cables had been installed by the Sierra Club in 1919. — Peter Fimrite, SFChronicle.com, "Woman falls 500 feet to her death from cables at Half Dome in Yosemite," 6 Sep. 2019 Chapter 12 is designated for family farmers and family fishermen under distress that write a plan to pay back creditors in three to five years. — Dana Ferguson, Twin Cities, "Gov. Walz looks to build Japan and Korea ties during trade mission as U.S.-China tariffs war escalates," 6 Sep. 2019 He was designated for assignment on Sept. 3, and cleared waivers to re-join the franchise. — Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, "Kyle Freeland’s season is lost, just like the Rockies. But 2020 will truly indicate where the southpaw stands.," 6 Sep. 2019 Only two routes were officially designated until 2011. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Some Santee streets becoming part of national bike route," 3 Sep. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'designate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for designate
designate
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of designate
(Entry 1 of 2)
formal
: chosen for a particular job but not officially doing that job yet
designate
verb
English Language Learners Definition of designate (Entry 2 of 2)
: to officially choose (someone or something) to do or be something : to officially give (someone or something) a particular role or purpose
: to call (something or someone) by a particular name or title
: to be used as a name for (something or someone)
See the full definition for designate in the English Language Learners Dictionary
designate
verb
des·ig·nate
| \ ˈde-zig-ˌnāt
\
\
designated;
designating
Kids Definition of designate
1
: to appoint or choose for a special purpose
They designated a leader.