delegated

/ˈdel.ɪ.ɡeɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [dˈɛləɡˌetəd] /ˈdel.ə.ɡeɪt/ (ame, ipa) · [dˈɛləɡˌetəd] /ˈde-li-gət -ˌgāt/ (ame, mw)

delegated — verb

  • delegatedpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • delegateds3rd person singular
  • delegateding-ing form
  • delegatededpast simple

1. if you delegated a task, duty, or responsibility, you gave it to someone else to

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

if you delegated a task, duty, or responsibility, you gave it to someone else to do instead of doing it yourself — used as the past tense or past participle of delegate.

例句

Ramón delegated the weekly report to his assistant so he could prepare for the client presentation.

delegated + noun phrase + to + person

Marta had a heavy workload, so she delegated key tasks to her assistant instead of doing everything alone.

past tense: delegated tasks to someone

同義詞
  • assigned

    assigned is more general and does not imply the task was originally yours; delegated implies you passed on something you would have done yourself

  • entrusted

    more formal, emphasises trust in the person receiving the task

  • handed over

    less formal, conversational tone

反義詞
  • kept

    to have done the task yourself rather than giving it to someone else

  • retained

    formal; to have kept authority or control instead of passing it on

文法句型

delegated + noun phrase + to + person

delegated + noun phrase (no object)

用法筆記

This is the most common meaning of the verb. When you use delegated, the object is always the task or responsibility — not the person. Correct: She delegated the report to him. Incorrect: She delegated him the report. Frequently used in past-tense narratives about workplace or management situations.

常見錯誤

❌I delegated him to clean the office.
✅I delegated the cleaning of the office to him.
💡The direct object of delegated is the task or responsibility, not the person.
❌She delegated the team to finish the project.
✅She delegated the project to the team.
💡Delegated takes the work as object, not the people doing it.

2. if you delegated someone to do something, you chose them to speak, vote, or take

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

if you delegated someone to do something, you chose them to speak, vote, or take action for your group at an official event — used as the past tense or past participle of delegate.

例句

The union delegated Zuri to speak at the annual conference about safety concerns.

delegated + person + to-infinitive

Each department delegated a member to vote on the new policy at the board meeting.

同義詞
  • appointed

    appointed does not necessarily imply acting on behalf of a group; delegated emphasises representation

  • authorised

    more formal; focuses on giving permission rather than choosing a representative

  • designated

    formal; often used for official roles and titles

文法句型

delegated + person + to-infinitive

was/were delegated + to-infinitive

用法筆記

The person delegated is always the direct object. The purpose is expressed with a to-infinitive. Common in past-tense descriptions of political, organisational, and diplomatic events. The passive form (was delegated to…) is especially frequent when the focus is on the person chosen.

常見錯誤

❌They delegated that Imran should negotiate.
✅They delegated Imran to negotiate.
💡The to-infinitive is required, not a that-clause.