v. 1
To designate or set apart (something) for some purpose.
to assign a day for trial
v. 2
To appoint or select (someone) for some office.
to assign counsel for a prisoner
v. 3
To allot or give (something) as a task.
v. 4
To attribute or sort (something) into categories.

Forms

Past participle: assigned
e.g. assigned → given, apportioned, allotted, distributed…

Choose the right word

Assign, Allot, Select or Set Apart?

Allot may also refer to space; as, to allot a plot of ground for a cemetery; but we now oftener use select, set apart, or assign. Assign is rarely used of time, but rather of places, persons, or things.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

transfer I haven't got any money on me, but I can transfer.
convey A standalone syllable doesn't convey any meaning.
distribute We would like to distribute your product in Japan.
apportion We need to figure out how to apportion the food.
appoint Just appoint the time and place and I'll be there.
designate Each football team needs to designate a captain.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
assign		steady
transfer		falling
convey		steady
distribute		steady
apportion		falling
appoint		falling

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters: put¹, set¹, fix¹
4 letters: give¹, cast¹
5 letters: place¹, allow², award², refer², allot²
6 letters: commit², divide², convey², attach², devote², impart², ordain², depute, impute², adduce
7 letters: advance², portion², specify³, appoint², dispose², ascribe², consign², earmark², destine
8 letters: transfer², delegate³, dedicate³, allocate³, alienate³, accredit³, arrogate³
9 letters: determine³, attribute³, designate³, apportion³
10 letters: commission³, distribute³, abalienate
11 letters: appropriate⁴

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (allow² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: assigner
Deutsch: zuweisen