EN

Synonyms for designate

  • verb

Most common

denote indicate name distinguish appoint allocate specify assign

Synonyms by meaning

Verb

1. Denote — to mark out and make known; to point out; to indicate; to show; to distinguish by marks or description

denote, indicate, name, distinguish, describe, mark, express, note, particularize, particularise UK, signify, characterize, characterise UK

2. Appoint — to indicate or set apart for a purpose or duty — with to or for; to designate an officer for or to the…

appoint, allocate, earmark, nominate, allot, cast

3. Specify

specify, choose, intend, destine

4. Assign

assign, delegate, depute

Other

call, term, define, entitle, denominate, point, pre-determine, point out, style, christen, dub, show

Antonyms

remove, dismiss, reject

All antonyms of designate →

Definitions

  1. v. 1

    To mark out and make known; to point out; to indicate; to show; to distinguish by marks or description

    to designate the boundaries of a country

  2. v. 2

    To indicate or set apart for a purpose or duty — with to or for; to designate an officer for or to the command of a post or station.

  3. v. 3

    To call by a distinctive title; to name.

Related words

Word family
designatory designation designative designatum

Forms

Past participle
designated
e.g. designated → denoted, indicated, named, distinguished…

Example sentences

  • describe Please describe to me exactly what happened there.
  • indicate Indicate size, color, and style on the order form.
  • distinguish We cannot distinguish her from her younger sister.
  • denote We use the symbol “⊂” to denote proper inclusion.
  • appoint Just appoint the time and place and I'll be there.
  • allocate A committee of experts determines how to allocate the money.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
designatefalling
describerising
indicatefalling
distinguishsteady
denotesteady
appointfalling

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

By length

3 letters
dub1
4 letters
show1, name1, call1, term1, mark1, note1, cast1
5 letters
point1, style1, allot2
6 letters
choose1, define2, intend2, assign2, denote2, depute
7 letters
express2, specify3, appoint2, signify3, entitle3, earmark2, destine
8 letters
describe2, indicate3, delegate3, nominate3, allocate3, christen2
10 letters
denominate4
11 letters
distinguish3
12 letters
characterize4, characterise
13 letters
particularize, particularise

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (allot2 = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français
désigner
Italiano
designare
Español
designar
Deutsch
designieren