- More from M-W
- To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In
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.
Examples of assign in a Sentence
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.
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 25 Oct. 2024.
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
Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!
Can you solve 4 words at once?
Word of the day.
See Definitions and Examples »
Get Word of the Day daily email!
Popular in Grammar & Usage
How to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), plural and possessive names: a guide, the difference between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.', what's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism', more commonly misspelled words, popular in wordplay, weird words for autumn time, 8 words for lesser-known musical instruments, 10 words from taylor swift songs (merriam's version), 9 superb owl words, 15 words that used to mean something different, games & quizzes.
- Cambridge Dictionary +Plus
Meaning of assignment in English
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
- It was a jammy assignment - more of a holiday really.
- He took this award-winning photograph while on assignment in the Middle East .
- His two-year assignment to the Mexico office starts in September .
- She first visited Norway on assignment for the winter Olympics ten years ago.
- He fell in love with the area after being there on assignment for National Geographic in the 1950s.
- act as something phrasal verb
- all work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy) idiom
- be at work idiom
- be in work idiom
- housekeeping
- in the line of duty idiom
- undertaking
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
assignment | American Dictionary
Assignment | business english, examples of assignment, collocations with assignment.
These are words often used in combination with assignment .
Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.
Translations of assignment
Get a quick, free translation!
Word of the Day
soft, loose clothing that is worn in bed and consists of trousers and a type of shirt
Cooking or hitting the books? (Idioms with ‘book’)
Learn more with +Plus
- Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}}
- Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English
- Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus
- Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation
- English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English
- English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English
- English–Dutch Dutch–English
- English–French French–English
- English–German German–English
- English–Indonesian Indonesian–English
- English–Italian Italian–English
- English–Japanese Japanese–English
- English–Norwegian Norwegian–English
- English–Polish Polish–English
- English–Portuguese Portuguese–English
- English–Spanish Spanish–English
- English–Swedish Swedish–English
- Dictionary +Plus Word Lists
- on assignment
- American Noun
- Collocations
- Translations
- All translations
To add assignment to a word list please sign up or log in.
Add assignment to one of your lists below, or create a new one.
{{message}}
Something went wrong.
There was a problem sending your report.
- Dictionaries home
- American English
- Collocations
- German-English
- Grammar home
- Practical English Usage
- Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta)
- Word Lists home
- My Word Lists
- Recent additions
- Resources home
- Text Checker
Definition of assignment noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
- Students are required to complete all homework assignments.
- You will need to complete three written assignments per semester.
- a business/special assignment
- I had set myself a tough assignment.
- on an assignment She is in Greece on an assignment for a media company.
- on assignment one of our reporters on assignment in China
- The students handed in their assignments.
- The teacher gave us an assignment on pollution.
- Why did you take on this assignment if you're so busy?
- He refused to accept the assignment.
- assignment on
Take your English to the next level
The Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus explains the difference between groups of similar words. Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app
How to Spell Assignment
Eseandre Mordi
- 14 Feb 2024
- 11 min read
In the world of written communication, spelling can significantly impact clarity and professionalism. This article offers a deep dive into spelling one commonly miswritten word— assignment . By exploring its correct spelling, common mistakes, and more, readers will gain valuable insights into mastering this word.
Correct Spelling of Assignment
The correct spelling of the word is assignment . It comprises three syllables: as-sign-ment. Each part plays a crucial role in the overall structure of the word, making it important not to omit any letters. The repetition of the letter "s" followed by the letters "ign" and ending with "ment" are key components to remember.
How to Remember the Correct Spelling
A useful mnemonic for remembering the correct spelling of assignment is to think of the phrase "a sign meant to guide you." This phrase breaks down the word into meaningful parts: "assign" + "ment," facilitating easier recall of the correct spelling.
Common Spelling Mistakes
Some of the common spelling mistakes include:
- Assigment - missing the second "s" in the word.
- Assignmant - incorrect vowel "a" instead of the "e" in the last syllable.
Such errors are considered incorrect because they disrupt the standard spelling conventions of the English language, leading to confusion and misinterpretation.
Definition and Etymology of Assignment
The word assignment refers to a task or piece of work allocated to someone as part of a job or course of study. Derived from the Middle English word "assignen," which means to appoint or allot, it incorporates the prefix "ad-" (to) and the root "signare" (to sign, mark), conveying the act of assigning something purposefully.
Transcription of Assignment
The phonetic transcription of assignment is /əˈsaɪnmənt/. This indicates how the word should be pronounced using phonetic symbols, providing guidance on stressing the second syllable and the silent "g" that is part of the "-gn" letter combination.
Examples of Using Assignment
Here are a few sentences that showcase how to use the word assignment :
- The student completed his assignment before the deadline.
- She received her first assignment in her new job.
- Finishing this assignment requires detailed research.
American and British Versions
The spelling of assignment remains the same in both American and British English. However, pronunciation and usage contexts might slightly vary across the two. For instance, the emphasis on syllables can differ, but these subtleties do not affect the fundamental spelling of the word.
Dictionary Entries
- Oxford English Dictionary.
- Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
- Cambridge Dictionary.
#Spelling #Assignment #WritingSkills #EnglishGrammar
Related articles
- Essay on A Meaningful Travel Experience
- Essay on How You Balance Academics and Extracurriculars
- Essay on A Moment of Cultural Discovery
- Essay on How I Developed a New Skill
- Essay on the Role of Music in Your Life
All resources related to 'assignment'
Definitions of 'assignment', pronunciation of 'assignment'.
It seems that your browser is blocking this video content.
To access it, add this site to the exceptions or modify your security settings, then refresh this page.
English usage
Synonyms of 'assignment', collocations with the word 'assignment', examples of 'assignment' in a sentence, translations of 'assignment', 'assignment' in other languages.
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Score: 0 / 5
Wordle Helper
Scrabble Tools
- Access the entire site, including the Easy Learning Grammar , and our language quizzes.
- Customize your language settings. (Unregistered users can only access the International English interface for some pages.)
- Submit new words and phrases to the dictionary.
- Benefit from an increased character limit in our Translator tool.
- Receive our weekly newsletter with the latest news, exclusive content, and offers.
- Be the first to enjoy new tools and features.
- It is easy and completely free !
IMAGES
VIDEO