Finding the Antonym of 'Appoint'

The question asks us to identify the most appropriate antonym for the word 'APPOINT' from the given options. An antonym is a word that has the opposite meaning of another word.

Understanding the Meaning of 'Appoint'

The word 'APPOINT' primarily means to assign a job or role to someone, or to decide on a time or place for something.

• Example: The committee decided to appoint a new chairman.
• Example: Let's appoint a meeting time for next week.

Analyzing the Options and Their Meanings

Let's look at the meanings of the given options:

• disobey: To fail to act in accordance with a command or rule; break a rule.
• disjoint: To separate at the joints; disconnect. In a mathematical context, sets are disjoint if they have no elements in common.
• dismiss: To order or allow to leave; send away. Also, to discharge someone from employment.
• dismantle: To take a machine or structure to pieces.

Identifying the Antonym

We are looking for a word that is the opposite of 'appoint' (assigning a job/role or setting a time/place). Let's consider how each option relates to 'appoint':

• 'Disobey' is the opposite of obey, not appoint.
• 'Disjoint' is about separating connected things, which is not the opposite of appointing someone to a position or setting a time.
• 'Dismiss' means to remove someone from a job or position, or to end a meeting/discussion and allow people to leave. This is a direct opposite of 'appointing' someone to a job or position, or 'appointing' a time for something to start.
• 'Dismantle' is about taking apart a physical object, which is unrelated to appointing.

Comparing the options, 'dismiss' is the most appropriate antonym for 'appoint', especially in the context of assigning someone to a role or position.

Statement Analysis

• Statement 1: disobey - Incorrect. Opposite of obey.
• Statement 2: disjoint - Incorrect. Means to separate at joints.
• Statement 3: dismiss - Correct. Means to remove from a position or send away. This is opposite to appointing someone to a position or setting a time.
• Statement 4: dismantle - Incorrect. Means to take apart a structure.

Revision Table: Appoint vs. Dismiss

Additional Information: Expanding Your Vocabulary

Understanding antonyms helps build your vocabulary and comprehension. When learning a new word like 'appoint', try to learn its synonyms (e.g., assign, nominate, designate, select) and antonyms (e.g., dismiss, discharge, remove) at the same time. This approach helps you understand the full range of meaning and usage.

Think about contexts where 'appoint' and 'dismiss' are used:

• A company might appoint a new CEO. Later, they might dismiss the CEO due to poor performance.
• A committee might appoint a date for the next meeting. They might then dismiss the current meeting.

Notice how 'dismiss' acts as the action that ends or reverses the action of 'appoint' in these common uses.