Assign — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ə-ˈsīn/ as·sign

Meaning & Definition of Assign

Assign (verb)

  1. to transfer (property) to another especially in trust or for the benefit of creditors
  2. to appoint to a post or duty
  3. to appoint as a duty or task

Assign (noun)

  1. assignee

Assign (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to give a task, duty, or responsibility to

    "assigned the class with the task of finding something in the state constitution they felt needed changing"

    similar: charge, commission, entrust, task, trust
    related: confer, impose, commit, confide, consign, delegate, recommend, relegate, repose, allocate, allot, authorize, empower, invest

  2. to give as a share or portion

    "each new employee is assigned a cubicle and a computer"

    similar: allocate, allot, allow, apportion, distribute, lot, ration
    related: admeasure, administer, deal, dispense, divide, dole out, hand out, measure, mete (out), meter, parcel (out), part, portion, prorate, share (out), split, accord, award, give, grant, earmark, reserve, chip in, contribute, donate, reallocate, reapportion, reassign, redistribute
    near: begrudge, deny, deprive (of), keep, retain, stint, withhold, appropriate, arrogate, confiscate

  3. to give over the legal possession or ownership of

    "assigned all rights to and royalties from the song to the Boy Scouts"

    similar: alien, alienate, cede, convey, deed, make over, transfer, dispose of
    related: bequeath, hand down, leave, pass (down), will, bestow, commend, commit, confer, contribute, deliver, donate, grant, hand over, move, pass, present, release, relinquish, surrender, transmit, turn in, turn over, vest, yield, consign, entrust, trust, lease, lend, let (chiefly British), loan, rent
    near: expropriate

  4. to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty

    "the mayor assigned the panel with the task of luring a major sports franchise to the city"

    similar: appoint, attach, commission, constitute, designate, detail, name, nominate, place
    related: authorize, delegate, depute, deputize, anoint, consecrate, create, inaugurate, induct, install, instate, institute, invest, make, ordain, crown, enthrone, throne, choose, destine, draft, elect, handpick, select, single (out), vote (in)
    opposite: discharge, dismiss, expel, fire
    near: blackball, depose, dethrone, displace, eject, evict, oust, overthrow, remove, throw out, uncrown, unmake, unseat

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Assign

The most common words with a similar meaning to Assign:

charge, commission, entrust, task, trust, allocate, allot, allow, apportion, distribute, lot, ration, alien, alienate, cede, convey, deed, make over, transfer, appoint, attach, constitute, designate, detail, name, nominate, place, dispose of

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Assign

Words with the opposite meaning of Assign:

discharge, dismiss, expel, fire

Related Words for Assign

confer, impose, commit, confide, consign, delegate, recommend, relegate, repose, authorize, empower, invest, admeasure, administer, deal, dispense, divide, dole out, hand out, measure, mete (out), meter, parcel (out), part, portion, prorate, share (out), split, accord, award

Near Antonyms of Assign

begrudge, deny, deprive (of), keep, retain, stint, withhold, appropriate, arrogate, confiscate, expropriate, blackball, depose, dethrone, displace, eject, evict, oust, overthrow, remove, throw out, uncrown, unmake, unseat

Word Forms of Assign

Inflections: assigned, assigning, assigns

Derived words: assignability (noun), assignable (adjective), assigner (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Assign

Middle English, from Anglo-French assigner, from Latin assignare, from ad- + signare to mark, from signum mark, sign

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Assign

Words & Phrases Containing Assign

preassign

Frequently Asked Questions about Assign

What does "Assign" mean?

"Assign" means to transfer (property) to another especially in trust or for the benefit of creditors. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to transfer (property) to another especially in trust or for the benefit of creditors. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Assign"?

Other words for "Assign" include charge, commission, entrust, task, trust, allocate, allot and allow. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Assign" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Assign"?

There are 117 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Assign". Common alternatives include charge, commission, entrust, task, trust, allocate, allot, allow, apportion and distribute.

What is the opposite of "Assign"?

Antonyms of "Assign" include discharge, dismiss, expel and fire. Near antonyms include begrudge, deny, deprive (of) and keep.

How do you use "Assign" in a sentence?

Examples of "Assign" in a sentence: "assigned the class with the task of finding something in the state constitution they felt needed changing"; "each new employee is assigned a cubicle and a computer"; "assigned all rights to and royalties from the song to the Boy Scouts".

Is "Assign" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Assign" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Assign" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Assign" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Assign"?

"Assign" is pronounced /ə-ˈsīn/ and divided into syllables as as·sign.