assigned; assigning; assigns
1
: to transfer (property) to another especially in trust or for the benefit of creditors
2
a
: to appoint to a post or duty
assigned them to light duty
assigned me two clerks
b
: to appoint as a duty or task
assigns 20 pages for homework
3
: to fix or specify in correspondence or relationship : select, designate
assign counsel to the defendant
assign a value to the variable
Though assigned male at birth, she appears most comfortable and in her element wearing a skirt and high-heeled sandals when riding a big-wheel or playing with a tea set.—
Will Dean
Will Dean4
a
: to ascribe as a motive, reason, or cause especially after deliberation
b
: to consider to belong to a specified period of time
Archaeologists assign the weapon to the eleventh century.
: assignee sense 3
heirs and assigns
Synonyms
Examples of assign in a Sentence
Verb
The teacher assigned us 50 math problems for homework!
She was assigned to the embassy in India.
The new teacher was assigned to the science laboratory.
The plane landed at its assigned gate.
Recent Examples on the WebLeo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 19 Apr. 2024
More detectives have been assigned to investigate the riot, which injured about 50 officers and damaged 20 police cars.
—Reuters, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for assign 
Verb
The teachers, who were assigned to Crossroads Elementary School, were reassigned to administrative positions while the district investigates the allegations.
—Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 19 Apr. 2024
More detectives have been assigned to investigate the riot, which injured about 50 officers and damaged 20 police cars.
—Reuters, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for assign
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'assign.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near assign
Cite this Entry
“Assign.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assign. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
assign
1 of 2 transitive verb
as·sign
ə-ˈsīn 
1
: to transfer (property or rights) to another
the general practice by inventors of assigning patent rights—J. K. Owens
J. K. Owens2
: to appoint to a post or duty
assigned to represent the defendant
3
: to fix or specify in relationship or correspondence
a party may assign as error…a failure to give an instruction, if that party properly requested it—Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 51
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 51assign
2 of 2 noun
: assignee
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