Other forms: nominated, nominating, nominates
To nominate is to formally put somebody's name forward for a role or a prize. Nominate a candidate, nominated for an award, nominate a successor.
It is a formal proposal rather than an appointment: nominating somebody starts a process that somebody else decides. In awards, being nominated is itself treated as an honour. It also means to name somebody for a purpose — nominate a beneficiary on a pension. Note nomination, nominee; and that the Latin means simply to name, from nomen.
1verbnominateTo formally put somebody's name forward.
“Her colleagues nominated her for the teacher of the year award.”
2verbpurposeTo name somebody for a purpose.
“You can nominate a family member to collect your parcels when you're away.”
nominate is a formal proposing.
Latin nominare comes from nomen, a name. Noun, nominal, denomination and renown come from the same naming.
Proto-Indo-European
*h₁nómn̥
Latin
nōminātus
Middle English
nominat — named, designated
English, today
nominate
Built from
The adjective is 1450, in Middle English, the verb in 1545; partly from Middle English nominat (“named, designated”), from Latin nōminātus, perfect passive participle of nōminō (“to name”) (see -ate), from nōmen (“a name”). Participial usage of the adjective up until Early Modern English.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA