consign

verb

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

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
consignable adjective
consignation noun
consignor noun
Choose the Right Synonym for consign

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 Now, at least, there are better prospects for fund shareholders, who were consigned to silence, to at last have a voice. Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2024 The 22-year-old Sinner climbed out of a deep hole to win his first Grand Slam title 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3, consigning Medvedev to a fifth loss in his six major finals. John Pye, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2024 That, too, is a result of our decision to consign the lessons of the past to oblivion. Daniel Foster, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023 It was consigned by a relative of the collector whose note indicated it was purchased in the 1970s for $200. Debbie Arrington, Sacramento Bee, 1 Feb. 2024 Once a pillar of the release calendar, rom-coms have largely been consigned to the smaller-scale world of streaming. David Sims, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2024 When all other options were exhausted, the airmen bailed out with parachutes, consigning themselves to the possibility of becoming a prisoner of war. Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Jan. 2024 Over the years some Palestinians had been employed as day laborers in the kibbutzim bordering Gaza, where people viewed them more benevolently, but those workers were also a regular reminder of the hard reality that Gazans were for the most part consigned to work others’ land. Rachel Lu, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023 In essence, after years of being consigned to the background, Gaza has become the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian confrontation. Foreign Affairs, 11 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'consign.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near consign

Cite this Entry

“Consign.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consign. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on consign

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