nominate

verb

nom·​i·​nate ˈnä-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce nominate (audio)
nominated; nominating

transitive verb

1
: designate, name
the first of the commonly so nominated explorers of the American ArcticVilhjalmur Stephansson
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
nominatable adjective
nominator noun
nominee noun

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
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 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

Word History

Etymology

Latin nominatus, past participle of nominare, from nomin-, nomen name — more at name

First Known Use

1545, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nominate was in 1545

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nominate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nominate. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

nominate

verb
nom·​i·​nate ˈnäm-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce nominate (audio)
nominated; nominating
: to choose as a candidate for election, appointment, or honor
especially : to propose for office
nominated a senator for president
nominator noun

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 How to pronounce nominate (audio)
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 ambassadorsU.S. Constitution art. II
2
: to propose as a candidate for election to office
nomination noun
Etymology

Latin nominatus, past participle of nominare to call by name, from nomin-, nomen name

More from Merriam-Webster on nominate

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