designate

/ˈdezɪɡneɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdezɪɡneɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈde-zig-ˌnāt/ (ame, mw) · /ˈdez.ɪɡ.nət/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdez.ɪɡ.nət/ (ame, ipa)

designate — verb

  • designatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • designateshe / she / it
  • designatedpast simple
  • designating-ing form

1. to choose someone formally for a particular position, role, or task within an or

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to choose someone formally for a particular position, role, or task within an organization or group, often through an official decision or vote

例句

Inês was designated as the project coordinator by the senior management team.

passive: be designated as + role

The committee designated Gabriel to lead the investigation into the data breach.

active: designate + person + to-infinitive

同義詞
  • appoint

    equally formal but more general; appoint can apply to any role, while designate often implies a formal selection process

  • name

    less formal; simply means 'choose and say who' without the official ceremony

  • nominate

    means 'suggest someone for a position', not necessarily the final selection

  • assign

    focuses on giving a specific task or duty rather than a formal title

反義詞
  • dismiss

    to remove someone from a position

  • remove

    to take someone out of a role

文法句型

designate + noun + as/for + role

designate + noun + to-infinitive

be designated + role (no preposition)

用法筆記

Often used in the passive voice. The role can be introduced by as (designated as team leader), to (designated to the post), or directly without a preposition (designated team leader). The active form is common in formal contexts such as board meetings and committee decisions.

常見錯誤

❌The manager designated the report.
✅The manager designated Linh to write the report.
💡designate requires a person or group as the object, not a document or task.
❌She designated the new position.
✅She designated him as the new team lead.
💡you must state who is being chosen, not just the role itself.

2. to officially state that a place, thing, or area has a particular type, quality,

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to officially state that a place, thing, or area has a particular type, quality, or specific purpose, usually through a formal decision or legal process

例句

The wetlands were designated a protected area for rare bird species.

passive: designated + direct complement (protected area)

This old theatre has been designated as a historic landmark by the city council.

passive: has been designated as + role

同義詞
  • classify

    used for putting things into categories or groups, often in scientific or technical contexts

  • label

    informal; can suggest a simpler or more general description

  • mark

    emphasises a visible sign or indicator rather than an official statement

反義詞
  • declassify

    to officially remove a classification, especially in government contexts

文法句型

be designated + noun (direct complement)

be designated + as + noun/adjective

be designated + for + purpose

用法筆記

Almost always used in the passive voice. The complement can appear directly (designated a national park) or after as (designated as a national park) — both are correct. The for pattern specifies the intended purpose rather than a category label.

常見錯誤

❌The park was designated.
✅The park was designated a protected area.
💡the sentence needs a complement to say what the place is classified as.
❌The government designated the area as dangerous zone.
✅The government designated the area as a dangerous zone.
💡as introduces a noun phrase, so an article or determiner is needed.

designate — adjective