nominate
verb
nom·i·nate
ˈnä-mə-ˌnāt 
nominated; nominating
1
2
a
: to appoint or propose for appointment to an office or place
He was nominated to the Supreme Court.
b
: to propose as a candidate for election to office
We expect the party to nominate him for president.
c
: to propose for an honor
nominate her for player of the year
He was nominated for an Academy Award.
3
: to enter (a horse) in a race
Examples of nominate in a Sentence
We expect the party to nominate him for president.
The President nominated her for Attorney General.
Someone has to tell her the truth—I nominate you.
We nominated her for player of the year.
Recent Examples on the Web
The top executives of the music awards in each country, or those nominated by the top executives, will participate in MAJ as overseas voting members.
—
Billboard Japan, Billboard, 14 Mar. 2025
She was nominated to lead the NEH by then-president Joe Biden in October 2021 and confirmed to a typical four-year term in the role by the Senate the following February.
—News Desk, Artforum, 14 Mar. 2025
Whether the withdrawal of Weldon’s nomination is a win for vaccines depends on who Trump nominates next and how much influence Kennedy exerts as the CDC director’s boss.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
She was nominated as U.N. ambassador months ago, yet her Senate confirmation vote remains in limbo.
—Lauren Green, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nominate
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Billboard Japan, Billboard, 14 Mar. 2025
She was nominated to lead the NEH by then-president Joe Biden in October 2021 and confirmed to a typical four-year term in the role by the Senate the following February.
—News Desk, Artforum, 14 Mar. 2025
Whether the withdrawal of Weldon’s nomination is a win for vaccines depends on who Trump nominates next and how much influence Kennedy exerts as the CDC director’s boss.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
She was nominated as U.N. ambassador months ago, yet her Senate confirmation vote remains in limbo.
—Lauren Green, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nominate
Cite this Entry
“Nominate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nominate. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nominate
verb
nom·i·nate
ˈnäm-ə-ˌnāt
nominated; nominating
: to choose as a candidate for election, appointment, or honor
especially
: to propose for office
nominated a senator for president
Legal Definition
nominate
1 of 2 adjective
nom·i·nate
ˈnä-mə-nət, -ˌnāt
in the civil law of Louisiana
: having a special or certain name compare innominate
nominate
2 of 2 transitive verb
nom·i·nate
ˈnä-mə-ˌnāt
nominated; nominating
1
: to appoint or propose for appointment to an office, position, or place
if the testator has nominated an executor of the will
the President…shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors—U.S. Constitution art. II
U.S. Constitution art. II2
: to propose as a candidate for election to office
Etymology
Latin nominatus, past participle of nominare to call by name, from nomin-, nomen name
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