nominate

USAGE SUMMARY

'nominate' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used in a variety of contexts, such as when someone is selecting a person or object for a particular purpose. For example, "The mayor nominated three candidates for the city council."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(Any professional librarian can nominate a book and it is added to the nominations).

The Guardian

BACK in 2003, with Howard Dean way ahead of the pack in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, the cover of the conservative National Review pleaded "Please, nominate this man".

The Economist

Malik was cast on Big Brother via a new method for 2014 that allowed people to nominate their friends anonymously.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

A spokesman for Abbott's office said "the story is wrong" but did not nominate which details were incorrect.

The Guardian

Below, Guardian editors and staff nominate their pick for Person of the Year.

The Guardian

If Sinn Féin came out as No 1 it would give them the right to nominate Martin McGuinness as first minister; no unionist would serve under him for fear of electoral annihilation in the near future.

The Guardian

Up until now, Republican primary voters have been torn: many of them would rather not nominate Romney, but they also do not want to lose the election to Barack Obama.

The Guardian - Opinion

My daughter keeps pressing me to name my favourite bands in adolescence in the desperate hope that one day I will nominate someone credible.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Verity (aged 14), on email I nominate Biggles Defies the Swastika by W.E. Johns.

The Guardian

The awards celebrate the best of the British food industry, and in a year when the industry continues to undergo change, OFM editor, Allan Jenkins, encourages readers to nominate those that put food first.

The Guardian

I'd like to nominate everyone, everywhere, who has more than what they need, to donate what they can to the people who need it most.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "nominate", clearly specify the role, position, or award the person is being nominated for. This adds clarity and context to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "nominate" in a way that obscures who is doing the nominating. Ensure the sentence clearly indicates the actor performing the nomination to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "nominate" is as a transitive verb, indicating the act of formally proposing someone for a position or award. Ludwig confirms this usage with numerous examples where "nominate" is followed by the person being nominated and the position or award.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The verb "nominate" is commonly used to formally propose someone for a position or award. Ludwig's AI analysis confirms its correct grammatical status and prevalent usage in various contexts. Primarily found in "News & Media" and "Formal & Business" settings, "nominate" signifies a formal endorsement. When using "nominate", it's crucial to specify the role or award for clarity, and avoid obscuring the actor performing the nomination. Alternatives include "propose as a nominee" or "recommend for selection", offering slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

put in nomination

A shorter, more direct way of saying "nominate".

propose as a nominee

Highlights the formal act of suggesting someone for a nomination.

put forward as a candidate

Focuses on presenting someone as a contender, highlighting the act of offering them for consideration.

submit someone for consideration

Emphasizes the act of formally presenting someone to be evaluated.

recommend for selection

Emphasizes the act of suggesting someone with a positive endorsement for a specific choice.

endorse for candidacy

Highlights supporting someone's potential run or selection for a position.

put someone's name forward

Emphasizes the act of publicly suggesting someone.

table someone as a contender

Focuses on formally listing someone as a participant or competitor.

suggest as an option

Offers a broader sense of recommending someone for consideration among various possibilities.

cite as a possibility

Highlights mentioning someone as a viable choice or candidate.

FAQs

How to use "nominate" in a sentence?

Use "nominate" to suggest someone formally for a position, award, or election, as in "The committee will nominate candidates for the upcoming election".

What can I say instead of "nominate"?

You can use alternatives like "propose as a nominee", "recommend for selection", or "put forward as a candidate" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "nominate" or "nominate for"?

"Nominate" is usually followed by what or whom you are nominating the person for. For example, "nominate him for president" is correct.

What's the difference between "nominate" and "elect"?

"Nominate" means to propose someone as a candidate, while "elect" means to choose someone for a position through voting. Nomination precedes election.