assign
uh-SYN
Assign (verb) means to give a specific task, role, or place to someone. Example: “The manager assigned the new project to Priya.”
verb
1
To give a specific task, role, or place to someone.
"The manager assigned the new project to Priya."
"Students were assigned seats on the first day."
"The coach will assign each player a position before the match."
2
To transfer property, a right, or a value to someone or something else.
"The company assigned the patent rights to its parent firm."
"She decided to assign her share of the house to her daughter."
"In this program you can assign a new value to the variable."
How to use assign
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo give someone a task, or to hand over a right or property to someone else.
Common pairings
assign a task
assign blame
assign a value
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Word forms
- Plural
- assigns
- Third person singular
- assigns
- Past tense
- assigned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The manager _____ the new project to Priya.
Etymology
From Old French assigner, from Latin assignare, from ad- ("to") plus signare ("to mark, sign").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for assign
See all rhymes for assign →Frequently asked questions
What does “assign” mean?
The word “assign” means to give a specific task, role, or place to someone. In plain terms, to give someone a task, or to hand over a right or property to someone else.
How do you pronounce “assign”?
“Assign” is pronounced uh-SYN (/əˈsaɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “assign” in a sentence?
Here is “assign” used in a sentence: “The manager assigned the new project to Priya.”
What is another word for “assign”?
Words with a similar meaning to “assign” include earmark and convey.
What part of speech is “assign”?
“Assign” is a verb.
Where does the word “assign” come from?
The word “assign” comes from Latin. From Old French assigner, from Latin assignare, from ad- ("to") plus signare ("to mark, sign").
Is “assign” a common word?
“Assign” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “assign” have?
“Assign” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to give a specific task, role, or place to someone.
What is the difference between assign and delegate?
Assign means to give a specific task, role, or place to someone, while delegate specifically involves passing on responsibility or authority that was originally someone else's to handle. Delegation often implies a transfer of decision-making power, whereas assigning is simply allocating a task.
What does assign mean in a legal or financial context?
In a legal or financial context, to assign means to transfer property, a right, or a value to someone or something else. For example, a person might assign the rights to a contract or a policy to another party.
What is a common collocation with assign?
Assign is commonly paired with words like task, role, seat, or value, as in "assign a task" or "assign a value." These collocations reflect both its everyday use for allocating duties and its more formal use for transferring rights or property.
