ASSIGN Synonyms: 146 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'assign' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of assign are ascribe , attribute , credit , and impute . While all these words mean "to lay something to the account of a person or thing," assign implies ascribing with certainty or after deliberation. // assigned the bones to the Cretaceous period

Q: In what contexts can 'ascribe' take the place of 'assign'?

The synonyms ascribe and assign are sometimes interchangeable, but ascribe suggests an inferring or conjecturing of cause, quality, authorship. // forged paintings formerly ascribed to masters

Q: How is 'attribute' related to other words for 'assign'?

Attribute suggests less tentativeness than ascribe , less definiteness than assign . // attributed to Rembrandt but possibly done by an associate

Q: Where would 'credit' be a reasonable alternative to 'assign'?

In some situations, the words credit and assign are roughly equivalent. However, credit implies ascribing a thing or especially an action to a person or other thing as its agent, source, or explanation. // credited his teammates for his success

Q: When is it sensible to use 'impute' instead of 'assign'?

While in some cases nearly identical to assign , impute suggests ascribing something that brings discredit by way of accusation or blame. // tried to impute sinister motives to my actions

assign

verb

ə-ˈsīn

Definition of assign next

as in to task

to give a task, duty, or responsibility to assigned the class with the task of finding something in the state constitution they felt needed changing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to allot

to give as a share or portion each new employee is assigned a cubicle and a computer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to cede

to give over the legal possession or ownership of assigned all rights to and royalties from the song to the Boy Scouts

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

expropriate

as in to appoint

to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty the mayor assigned the panel with the task of luring a major sports franchise to the city

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word assign different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of assign are ascribe, attribute, credit, and impute. While all these words mean "to lay something to the account of a person or thing," assign implies ascribing with certainty or after deliberation.

assigned the bones to the Cretaceous period

In what contexts can ascribe take the place of assign?

The synonyms ascribe and assign are sometimes interchangeable, but ascribe suggests an inferring or conjecturing of cause, quality, authorship.

forged paintings formerly ascribed to masters

How is attribute related to other words for assign?

Attribute suggests less tentativeness than ascribe, less definiteness than assign.

attributed to Rembrandt but possibly done by an associate

Where would credit be a reasonable alternative to assign?

In some situations, the words credit and assign are roughly equivalent. However, credit implies ascribing a thing or especially an action to a person or other thing as its agent, source, or explanation.

credited his teammates for his success

When is it sensible to use impute instead of assign?

While in some cases nearly identical to assign, impute suggests ascribing something that brings discredit by way of accusation or blame.

tried to impute sinister motives to my actions

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of assign Pilots can also train on a common aircraft regardless of which carrier they are assigned to. —

Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 4 July 2026 Of course, Swift has never confirmed any fan theories—and has even expressed feeling a little weirded out when fans try to assign her songs to her real-life exes. —

Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 4 July 2026 Here are the grades our writers assigned for the work done so far. —

Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 4 July 2026 Under Captain George Webb's Company of Light Infantry, Sampson was assigned the risky task of scouting neutral territory. —

Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for assign

Recent Examples of Synonyms for assign

Verb

Once Puma reached space as well, the vehicles were tasked with rapid acquisition, rendezvousing and assessment operations to simulate the interception and characterization of potential adversary spacecraft.

— Josh Dinner, Space.com, 3 July 2026
Because tasked with putting the final pieces of this elaborate jigsaw together, Grier went out and signed a crop of players whose resumes best resemble a nightclub security detail.

— Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 2 July 2026

Definition of task

Verb

But rather than cede ground to an outsider, the town's residents plant TNT in every single structure, blowing them up before Lassiter can get his hands on them.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026
The Microsoft 365 Copilot AI assistant has yet to gain anything approaching ubiquity in the business world, and the GitHub Copilot coding agent has ceded market share to newer players.

— Jordan Novet, CNBC, 2 July 2026

Definition of cede

Verb

The commission unanimously appointed Deputy City Manager Christopher Cooper as acting city manager.

— Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
Rosie Rios, chair of the America250 Semiquincentennial Commission appointed to the bipartisan group by President Joe Biden, noted she's served on the commission through several administrations.

— Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 3 July 2026

Definition of appoint

Verb

This rare, Fancy Deep Blue gem is the largest ever discovered in Botswana, a national treasure entrusted by the government to the French jewelry house.

— Kate Matthams, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
He was also assigned to a DA’s office and entrusted with the investigation of murders.

— Boston Herald editorial staff, Boston Herald, 30 June 2026

Definition of entrust

Verb

In his final state budget as governor, Gavin Newsom allocated $135 million to provide incentives for new and used EVs.

— Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Then these costs are allocated to categories of customers, such as residential, commercial and industrial.

— Theodore J. Kury, The Conversation, 6 July 2026

Definition of allocate

Verb

Eisenberg was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe for best screenplay, and his screenplay won a BAFTA Award, the Waldo Salt Award at the Sundance Film Festival, an Independent Spirit Award, and numerous other prizes.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 4 July 2026
It was nominated for 12 Oscars in 2013, and took home two, including best actor for Day-Lewis.

— Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026