assign definition

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[ uh - sahyn ]

verb (used with object)

to assign rooms at a hotel.

to assign homework.

to assign one to guard duty.

to assign a day for a meeting.

Synonyms: determine , fix

to assign a cause.

Synonyms: offer , show , advance , allege , adduce

to assign a contract.

• Military. to place permanently on duty with a unit or under a commander.

verb (used without object)

• Law. to transfer property, especially in trust or for the benefit of creditors.

my heirs and assigns.

to assign an expert to the job

to assign advertising to an expert

to assign a day for the meeting

to assign a stone cross to the Vikings

• to transfer (one's right, interest, or title to property) to someone else
• also intr law (formerly) to transfer (property) to trustees so that it may be used for the benefit of creditors
• military to allocate (men or materials) on a permanent basis Compare attach
• computing to place (a value corresponding to a variable) in a memory location
• law a person to whom property is assigned; assignee

Discover More

Derived forms.

• asˈsigner , noun
• asˈsignably , adverb
• asˌsignaˈbility , noun
• asˈsignable , adjective

Other Words From

• as·signer Chiefly Law. as·sign·or [ uh, -sahy-, nawr, as-, uh, -, nawr ] , noun
• misas·sign verb
• nonas·signed adjective
• preas·sign verb (used with object)
• preas·signed adjective
• reas·sign verb (used with object)
• self-as·signed adjective
• unas·signed adjective
• well-as·signed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of assign 1

Synonym Study

Example sentences.

It is designed to listen to meetings with multiple participants and will parse discussion patterns to produce informative synopses and assign post-meeting action items.

Such randomized, double-blinded controlled trials randomly assign patients to receive a drug or a placebo, and don’t reveal to participants or doctors who is getting which.

That AI could pore over an astronaut’s symptoms and then recommend medical tests, make diagnoses and assign treatments.

So I rose beyond cleaning, to working as an operational dispatcher for cabin services in the American Airlines traffic control center, assign cleaning crews to each incoming aircraft.

Ideally, the Mars spaceship would be equipped with artificial intelligence that could consider an astronaut’s symptoms, recommend medical tests, make diagnoses and assign treatments.

Now the Kremlin will assign more loyal people to rule the region, mostly military leaders.

When we assign a primitive “not me” status to another individual or social group, it can—and does—take us down a destructive path.

Other folks can debate and assign blame for “who lost Iraq.”

Renee Richardson knows she'll likely never be able to assign blame for her son's death—she's done fighting for that.

Girls are directed through several pages of this until they are asked to assign the guy a series of pre-decided adjectives.

The designs of Russia have long been proverbial; but the exercise of the new art of printing may assign them new features.

With what honest pride did John Smith, the best farmer of them all, step to the fore and assign to each man his place!

If the lessee die, his executor or administrator can assign the remainder of his term.

As the lessee may assign or sublet unless forbidden, so may the lessor part with his interest in the leased premises.

If offered any dish of which you do not wish to partake, decline it, but do not assign any reason.

Related Words

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of assign in English

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assign verb [T] ( CHOOSE )

• Every available officer will be assigned to the investigation .
• The textbooks were assigned by the course director .
• Part of the group was assigned to clear land mines .
• Each trainee is assigned a mentor who will help them learn more about the job .
• We were assigned an interpreter for the duration of our stay .
• accommodate
• accommodate someone with something
• administration
• arm someone with something
• hand something down
• hand something in
• hand something out
• hand something over
• reassignment

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

assign verb [T] ( SEND )

• She was assigned to the Paris office .
• All the team was assigned to Poland.
• advertisement
• employment agency
• equality, diversity and inclusion
• reinstatement
• relocation expenses
• testimonial

assign verb [T] ( COMPUTING )

• 3-D printing
• adaptive learning
• additive manufacturing
• hexadecimal
• hill climbing
• telerobotics
• word processing

assign verb [T] ( GIVE LEGALLY )

Phrasal verb, assign | intermediate english, assign | business english, examples of assign, translations of assign.

Get a quick, free translation!

Word of the Day

a computer program designed to have a conversation with a human being, usually over the internet

Searching out and tracking down: talking about finding or discovering things

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• Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
• assign (CHOOSE)
• assign (SEND)
• assign (COMPUTING)
• assign (GIVE LEGALLY)
• Intermediate    Verb
• Business    Verb
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Definition of assign verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• assign something (to somebody) The teacher assigned a different task to each of the children.
• The two large classrooms have been assigned to us.
• assign somebody something We have been assigned the two large classrooms.
• The teacher assigned each of the children a different task.

Questions about grammar and vocabulary?

Find the answers with Practical English Usage online, your indispensable guide to problems in English.

• assign somebody (to something/as something) They've assigned their best man to the job.
• Two senior officers have been assigned to the case.
• assign somebody to do something British forces have been assigned to help with peacekeeping.
• be assigned to somebody/something I was assigned to B platoon.
• He was assigned to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1975.
• assign something to something Assign a different colour to each different type of information.
• assign something sth The painting cannot be assigned an exact date.
• The agreement assigns copyright to the publisher.
• She has assigned the lease to her daughter.

Nearby words