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Definition of assign
(Entry 1 of 2)
transitive verb
Definition of assign (Entry 2 of 2)
- intrust
ascribe , attribute , assign , impute , credit mean to lay something to the account of a person or thing.
ascribe suggests an inferring or conjecturing of cause, quality, authorship.
attribute suggests less tentativeness than ascribe , less definiteness than assign .
assign implies ascribing with certainty or after deliberation.
impute suggests ascribing something that brings discredit by way of accusation or blame.
credit implies ascribing a thing or especially an action to a person or other thing as its agent, source, or explanation.
Example Sentences
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'assign.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback .
Word History
Verb and Noun
Middle English, from Anglo-French assigner , from Latin assignare , from ad- + signare to mark, from signum mark, sign
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing assign
- pre - assign
Dictionary Entries Near assign
Cite this entry.
“Assign.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assign. Accessed 8 Mar. 2023.
Kids Definition
Kids definition of assign, legal definition, legal definition of assign.
Legal Definition of assign (Entry 2 of 2)
More from Merriam-Webster on assign
Nglish: Translation of assign for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of assign for Arabic Speakers
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Meaning of assigned 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 were 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 back
- hand something down
- hand something in
- hand something out
- re-equipment
- 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 were assigned to Poland.
- advertisement
- employment agency
- equality, diversity and inclusion
- reinstatement
- relocation expenses
assign verb [T] ( COMPUTING )
- 3-D printing
- adaptive learning
- additive manufacturing
- addressable
- addressable memory
- bulletin board
- home automation
- importation
- information age
- information security
- tokenization
- transcoding
- virtual reality
assign verb [T] ( GIVE LEGALLY )
Phrasal verb.
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OTHER WORDS FOR assign
Origin of assign, synonym study for assign, other words from assign, words nearby assign, words related to assign, how to use assign in a sentence.
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.
British Dictionary definitions for assign
Derived forms of assign, word origin for assign.
assign Definitions and Synonyms
- give someone a job
- send someone to a place
- put someone in a group
- give money/equipment
- give something a name/use etc.
- decide a time for something
- give someone ownership
Two senior officers were assigned to the investigation .
It’s his job to assign tasks to the various members of the team .
Mountbatten was assigned responsibility for retaking the territory .
He was assigned to the company ’s branch in Cairo.
Tina has been assigned to the intermediate learners ’ group .
I was assigned a car for my personal use.
The operation was assigned the code name “Rita.”
I have assigned four hours for recording the data .
All rights shall be assigned to the publisher .
American definition and synonyms of assign from the online English dictionary from Macmillan Education.
This is the American English definition of assign . View British English definition of assign .
Change your default dictionary to British English.
View the pronunciation for assign .
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assigned; assigns; assigning
To assign is to specify something or someone for a specific purpose. If your sisters fight over whose turn it is to sit in the front seat, your parents may have to assign turns.
The verb assign also means to transfer legal rights. You assign the deed to your house to new owners when you sell it. If you sort things into categories by characteristics, you are assigning them categories. When you make a budget, you assign each expense a category. Food and housing, for example, may be essential living expenses and medicine and doctor's visits may be health care. Chocolate gets its own category.
- verb select something or someone for a specific purpose “The teacher assigned him to lead his classmates in the exercise” synonyms: set apart , specify see more see less types: dedicate set apart to sacred uses with solemn rites, of a church detail assign to a specific task type of: choose , pick out , select , take pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
- verb give an assignment to (a person) to a post, or assign a task to (a person) synonyms: delegate , depute , designate see more see less types: show 27 types... hide 27 types... mandate assign authority to cast select to play,sing, or dance a part in a play, movie, musical, opera, or ballet post assign to a post; put into a post cast assign the roles of (a movie or a play) to actors devolve pass on or delegate to another task assign a task to place place somebody in a particular situation or location regiment assign to a regiment reassign , transfer transfer somebody to a different position or location of work delegate , depute transfer power to someone mandate assign under a mandate advance , elevate , kick upstairs , promote , raise , upgrade give a promotion to or assign to a higher position break , bump , demote , kick downstairs , relegate assign to a lower position; reduce in rank place assign to (a job or a home) recast cast again, in a different role miscast cast an actor, singer, or dancer in an unsuitable role typecast cast repeatedly in the same kind of role second transfer an employee to a different, temporary assignment exchange hand over one and receive another, approximately equivalent tenure give life-time employment to bring up promote from a lower position or rank spot promote promote on the spot ennoble , entitle , gentle give a title to someone; make someone a member of the nobility sideline remove from the center of activity or attention; place into an inferior position reduce bring to humbler or weaker state or condition favor , favour , prefer promote or prefer over another brevet promote somebody by brevet, in the military type of: appoint , charge assign a duty, responsibility, or obligation to
- verb decide as to where something belongs in a scheme “The biologist assigned the mushroom to the proper class” synonyms: attribute see more see less types: classify , relegate assign to a class or kind type of: evaluate , judge , pass judgment form a critical opinion of
- verb give out “We were assigned new uniforms” synonyms: allot , portion see more see less types: show 5 types... hide 5 types... allow , appropriate , earmark , reserve , set aside give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause allocate , apportion distribute according to a plan or set apart for a special purpose reallocate , reapportion allocate, distribute, or apportion anew ration , ration out distribute in rations, as in the army award , present give, especially as an honor or reward type of: administer , allot , deal , deal out , dish out , dispense , distribute , dole , dole out , lot , mete , mete out , parcel out , shell out administer or bestow, as in small portions
- verb attribute or give synonyms: put see more see less types: repose put or confide something in a person or thing type of: apply , employ , use , utilise , utilize put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
- verb attribute or credit to synonyms: ascribe , attribute , impute impute attribute (responsibility or fault) to a cause or source see more see less types: show 10 types... hide 10 types... impute attribute (responsibility or fault) to a cause or source carnalise , carnalize , sensualise , sensualize ascribe to an origin in sensation credit give someone credit for something reattribute attribute to another source anthropomorphise , anthropomorphize ascribe human features to something personate , personify attribute human qualities to something accredit , credit ascribe an achievement to blame , charge attribute responsibility to externalise , externalize , project regard as objective interiorise , interiorize , internalise , internalize incorporate within oneself; make subjective or personal type of: evaluate , judge , pass judgment form a critical opinion of
- verb transfer one's right to see more see less type of: transfer cause to change ownership
- verb make undue claims to having synonyms: arrogate see more see less type of: arrogate , claim , lay claim demand as being one's due or property; assert one's right or title to
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What Is the Definition of Assigns
Definition of assigns refers to the assignment of a contract, and it is what happens when one party in the contract gives his or her rights to another party. 3 min read
The definition of assigns refers to the assignment of a contract, and it is what happens when one party in the contract gives his or her rights to another party. The party giving away rights is the assignor and the one receiving the rights is the assignee. The assignor typically asks that the assignee perform all the contractual obligations and receive all the benefits of the agreement. The person assigned the contract has to be aware of this assignation.
Subleased Property is an Example of an Assignment
One easy way to show what an assignment is would be when a tenant in a leased property decides to move and assigns, or subleases the property to a third party. The new tenant then has the right to take up residence in the property along with the obligation to meet all terms from the original lease . There are times, however, when the contract language affects the ability to make this type of assignment. Contracts may prohibit assignment using a clause, while some contracts simply require the assignee to consent to the agreement.
Contractual Assignment Issues
It isn't always possible to simply assign a contract. Some examples include:
- When there is a clause in the contract that prohibits assignment
- When the contract states the other party in the agreement has to accept or consent to the assignment
- When an assignment is made, it doesn't necessarily relieve the assignor of the duty fulfill his or her obligations
- When the contract states that even when assigned, the original parties must guarantee performance.
Anti-Assignment Clauses
An anti-assignment clause in a contract prohibits any assignment of the contract. If one of the parties tries to assign the contract, that assignment is void. This is common when an assignment:
- Materially alters the scope of the agreement or what's expected
- Impacts the performance or obligations that have been contracted
- Reduces the value or expected return
- Increases the risk faced by the other party
- Violate public policy or involves breaking the law
Laws and Public Policies That Prohibit Assignment
Some examples of laws and public policies that prohibit contractual assignments include:
- State regulations that prohibit an employee from assigning future wages
- Federal regulations that prohibit some types of claims against the government from being assigned.
- Personal injury claims that might encourage legal suits can't be assigned
- Some types of personal duties, such as a performance by a celebrity, can't be assigned because they are extremely specific in regard to what must be done to complete the contractual obligation
An anti-assignment clause can be worded simply, stating that the parties involved can't assign or delegate rights under the contract's terms.
Privity of Contract
The term privity of contract tells you that if the assignee picks up the assignor's contractual duties, it indicates if the assignee has agreed to take on the assignment. For the assignee to be held to the legal duty to meet the contractual obligations, there has to be an expressed intention to take on the responsibility the assignor originally held in the agreement. The contract between the original parties wouldn't affect the issue, and a provision in the contract wouldn't be binding on the assignee in regard to rights to perform the assignor's obligations under the contract.
Contractor Work as an Example of an Assignment
One way to envision the process of assignment is to imagine yourself as a housing contractor. Someone pays you a sum of money to do a job. You get hurt and can't do it, or maybe you decide you can make more on a different job. You hire someone, a third-party subcontractor , to do the job in your place. The person doing the work in your place is the assignee and you are the assignor. You might pay the person taking over the work the full amount, or you may take a cut and pay them a smaller amount.
Obligor's Agreement Not Required
The success of an assignment doesn't require the obligor's agreement. If the assignment is valid, and there is no clause in the original agreement prohibiting assignment, the obligor's duty shifts from the original contracting party, the assignor, to the assignee. The obligor, as the non-assigning party, is contractually obligated to fulfill his or her duty to the assignee.
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Content Approved by UpCounsel
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The meaning of ASSIGN is to transfer (property) to another especially in trust or for the benefit of creditors. How to use assign in a
to give to someone a job or responsibility, or to decide on a person for a particular job or responsibility: We assigned Alberto the task of
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1. Assign, allocate, allot mean to apportion or measure out. To assign is to distribute available things, designating them to be given to or reserved for
assign Definitions and Synonyms · 1. to give someone a job to do · 2. to send someone to a particular place, especially in order for them to work there · 3.
To assign is to specify something or someone for a specific purpose. If your sisters fight over whose turn it is to sit in the front seat, your parents may
From Longman Business Dictionaryassignas‧sign /əˈsaɪn/ verb [transitive]1to give someone a particular job or task, or send them to work in a particular place or
1. To select for a duty or office; appoint: firefighters assigned to the city's industrial park. See Synonyms at appoint. 2. To
Definition of assigns refers to the assignment of a contract, and it is what happens when one party in the contract gives his or her rights to another
Terms Defined in Agreement. As used herein, each term defined in the Agreement shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Agreement, unless expressly