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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Assign: Definition, Usage & Common Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：give a task (assign)

assign 🔊

/əˈsaɪn/

vt.

To give someone a particular job or piece of work to do.

Illustration of a teacher assigning homework to students in a classroom.

give a task 🔊

➕

/ɡɪv ə tæsk/

vt.

To designate or allot a specific job or piece of work to someone.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'assignare', from 'ad-' (to) + 'signare' (to mark).

💡 Mnemonic

Associate 'assign' with 'sign' – you sign off on giving someone a task.

📖 Example

The teacher will assign a new project about environmental protection next week. 🔊 The teacher will assign a new project about environmental protection next week.

🔗 Collocations

assign homework – to give schoolwork to students

assign a project – to allocate a specific task or investigation

assign responsibilities – to designate duties to individuals

🔄 Synonyms

allocate (vt.) – to distribute resources or tasks

distribute (vt.) – to give out or apportion

delegate (vt.) – to entrust a task or responsibility to another

🚫 Antonyms

withhold (vt.) – to refuse to give or grant

revoke (vt.) – to officially cancel or withdraw

🌱 Derivatives

assignment (n.) – a task or piece of work allocated to someone

assignee (n.) – a person to whom something is assigned

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'assignare' (to mark out), via Old French. Commonly used in education and business for task allocation.

Meaning 2：appoint someone (assign)

assign 🔊

/əˈsaɪn/

vt.

To choose someone for a particular job or position, or to decide something is used for a specific purpose.

Diagram showing a manager assigning a team lead role on an office whiteboard.

appoint someone 🔊

➕

/əˈpɔɪnt ˈsʌmwʌn/

vt.

To select or designate someone for a specific role or purpose.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The manager decided to assign Maria as the team leader for the upcoming product launch. 🔊 The manager decided to assign Maria as the team leader for the upcoming product launch.

🔗 Collocations

assign a role – to designate someone for a specific function

assign a leader – to appoint someone as the head of a group

assign a purpose – to decide the specific use for something

🔄 Synonyms

appoint (vt.) – to select for a job or position

designate (vt.) – to officially choose for a particular role

nominate (vt.) – to propose or select for an office or position

🚫 Antonyms

dismiss (vt.) – to remove someone from a position

discharge (vt.) – to release from duty or obligation

🌱 Derivatives

assignment (n.) – a task or piece of work allocated to someone

assignee (n.) – a person to whom something is assigned