assign

uh-SYN/əˈsaɪn/

Verbassigns, assigning, assigned

Noun pluralassigns

11 meanings of assign

Practice

1
verbtransitive
To give a job or task to a person or group.
Like handing out chores to each person in a house.
The teacher will assign homework over the weekend.
Please assign each kid a simple job for the cleanup.
Similarallocate, allot, delegate, give, distribute
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2
verbtransitive
To set something aside for a special use.
Like saving one drawer just for socks.
We assign one room just for storage.
They assigned a parking spot for visitors.
Similarallocate, allot, designate, earmark, give
Note
3
verbtransitive
To choose someone for a job or position.
Like picking someone to be team captain.
They will assign her to lead the team.
The school assigned a new principal this year.
Similarappoint, post, station, name
4
verbtransitive
To give your property or rights to another person under the law.
Like signing over a ticket so someone else can use it.
He can assign the lease to a new tenant.
She assigned her share of the money to her brother.
Similartransfer, convey, cede
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5
verbtransitive
To give a value to a variable in a program.
Like putting a label with a number on a box.
First we assign the number five to x.
The program assigns a value to each letter.
Note
6
verbtransitive
To put something into a group or class.
Like sorting laundry into different piles.
We assign each book to the right shelf.
The system assigns every email to a folder.
Similarclassify, categorize, allocate, give
7
verbtransitive
To record whether a baby is male or female, usually at birth.
Doctors usually assign a baby's sex right after birth.
The nurse assigned the newborn as female.
Note
8
nouncountable
A person who is given rights or property by someone else.
Like the person who takes over a contract you hand off.
The land goes to the buyer and any assign named later.
Money owed must be paid to the seller or their assigns.
Similarassignee
Oppositeassignor
Note

Less common meanings

9
nounobsolete
An extra thing that belongs to or goes with something else.
Like the handle that comes as part of a cup.
The farmhouse and every assign upon the land passed to his son.
The King ſir hath wagerd with him ſix Barbary horſes, againgſt the which hee has impaund as I take it ſix French Rapiers and Poynards, with their aſſignes, as girdle, hanger and ſo.
c. 1599, William Shakespeare, The Tragicall Historie of HamletHere, assignes means the parts that go with the swords, like belts and straps.
Note
10
nounobsolete
A task or duty given to someone.
Like a chore your boss tells you to do.
The soldier awaited his assign from the captain.
She completed every assign her master gave.
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11
nounobsolete
A plan or reason behind doing something.
He aim’d at high designs, and so attain’d / The high assigns to which his spirit aim’d.
1609, John Ford, “Fame's Memorial: An Elegy upon the Earl of Devonshire”Here, assigns means plans or goals he was aiming for.
Note

Practice

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Origin

From Latin assignō, made from ad- and signō meaning "to mark" or "sign," which came into English through Old French.