designate
To officially choose someone or something for a particular role, purpose, or category. It often involves formal recognition or marking a specific area for a specific function.
Examples
3 of 5I will be the designated driver tonight to make sure everyone gets home safely.
I will be the chosen person to drive tonight to ensure everyone returns home safely.
The government intends to designate the forest as a protected national park.
The government plans to officially name the forest a protected national park.
Let's designate this table as the 'snack zone' for the party.
Let's pick this table to be the area for snacks during the party.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of the word 'SIGN' inside de-SIGN-ate. You 'sign' a document to officially name or choose someone for a job.
Quick Quiz
The city council voted to ___ this building as a historical landmark.
Correct!
The correct answer is: designate
Examples
I will be the designated driver tonight to make sure everyone gets home safely.
everydayI will be the chosen person to drive tonight to ensure everyone returns home safely.
The government intends to designate the forest as a protected national park.
formalThe government plans to officially name the forest a protected national park.
Let's designate this table as the 'snack zone' for the party.
informalLet's pick this table to be the area for snacks during the party.
Scholars designate the 14th century as the beginning of the Renaissance in Italy.
academicAcademics classify the 14th century as the start of the Renaissance in Italy.
The board will designate a new director to oversee the merger next month.
businessThe board of directors will appoint a new leader to manage the merger next month.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
designated hitter
a player in baseball who bats but does not play in the field
designated survivor
a person in the line of succession kept at a safe distance during major events
designated smoking area
a specific place where smoking is officially permitted
Often Confused With
Design refers to creating or planning the appearance of something, while designate refers to choosing or naming something for a role.
Delegate means to give a specific task or power to someone else, whereas designate means to assign a title or status to them.
Usage Notes
Designate is most frequently used in formal or administrative contexts. When used to describe a role, it is often followed by 'as' (e.g., 'designated as the leader').
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 'designate to' when they mean 'designate as' for a title. Additionally, they might confuse it with 'design' due to the similar spelling.
Memory Tip
Think of the word 'SIGN' inside de-SIGN-ate. You 'sign' a document to officially name or choose someone for a job.
Word Origin
From the Latin 'designatus', the past participle of 'designare', meaning 'to mark out or trace'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
The concept of a 'designated driver' is a significant social responsibility in many Western cultures to prevent drinking and driving.
Quick Quiz
The city council voted to ___ this building as a historical landmark.
Correct!
The correct answer is: designate
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
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