consign

verb

con·​sign kən-ˈsīn How to pronounce consign (audio)
consigned; consigning; consigns
Synonyms of consignnext

transitive verb

1
: to give over to another's care
… consign her single daughters to the care of their sister …—Jane Austen
2
: to give, transfer, or deliver into the hands or control of another
also : to commit especially to a final destination or fate
a writer consigned to oblivion
consign a body to the grave
3
: to send or address to an agent to be cared for or sold
consigned the paintings for sale

intransitive verb

obsolete : agree, submit
consignable
kən-ˈsī-nə-bəl How to pronounce consign (audio)
adjective
consignation
ˌkän-ˌsī-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce consign (audio)
ˌkän(t)-sig-
noun
consignor
ˌkän-ˌsī-ˈnȯr How to pronounce consign (audio)
kən-
noun

Synonyms of consign

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commit, entrust, confide, consign, relegate mean to assign to a person or place for a definite purpose.

commit may express the general idea of delivering into another's charge or the special sense of transferring to a superior power or to a special place of custody.

committed the felon to prison

entrust implies committing with trust and confidence.

the president is entrusted with broad powers

confide implies entrusting with great assurance or reliance.

confided complete control of my affairs to my attorney

consign suggests removing from one's control with formality or finality.

consigned the damaging notes to the fire

relegate implies a consigning to a particular class or sphere often with a suggestion of getting rid of.

relegated to an obscure position in the company

Examples of consign in a Sentence

She consigned the painting to an auction house. The goods were consigned to him.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The reports in those cases had also been quickly consigned to the inactive file. — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 30 June 2026 Instead, authorities say Doyle quietly consigned the work through a business partner to a Manhattan gallery at a far lower asking price. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 29 June 2026 That we were consigned to history, that a majority at the general election, let alone a landslide majority, was impossible. — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 22 June 2026 Less than two years ago, Starmer led Labour to its biggest majority in Parliament this century, consigning the Conservatives to their worst-ever defeat. — Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for consign

Word History

Etymology

Middle French consigner, from Latin consignare, from com- + signum sign, mark, seal — more at sign

First Known Use

1528, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of consign was in 1528

Rhymes for consign

See All Rhymes for consign

Browse Nearby Words

consigliere
consign
consignatary
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Consign.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consign. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

consign

verb
con·​sign kən-ˈsīn How to pronounce consign (audio)
1
: to give over to another's care : entrust
2
: to give, transfer, or deliver to another
3
: to send or address (as goods) to an agent to be cared for or sold

Legal Definition

consign

transitive verb
con·​sign kən-ˈsīn How to pronounce consign (audio)
: to entrust (one's goods) to the possession of a dealer to be sold for profit or returned if unsold compare bail, entrust
consignment noun
consignor
kən-ˈsī-nər, ˌkän-ˌsī-ˈnȯr How to pronounce consign (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on consign

Nglish: Translation of consign for Spanish Speakers

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