Cool MateAppoint vs Hire
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Appoint
FormalTop 2,000 (common)C1verb
Hire
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Most formal: AppointMost common: Hire
| Appoint | Hire | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //əˈpɔɪnt//🇺🇸 //əˈpɔɪnt// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈhaɪə(r)/","/ˈhaɪəz/","/ˈhaɪəd/","/ˈhaɪərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈhaɪər/","/ˈhaɪərz/","/ˈhaɪərd/","/ˈhaɪərɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To choose someone for a job or position. | To pay someone to do a job. |
| Example | The board will appoint a new CEO next month. | We decided to hire a new employee for the marketing department. |
| Register | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | appoint a committee, appoint a representative, appoint a task | by the day, can/can’t afford to, hire and fire, by the day, can/can’t afford to, hire and fire, by the day, week, etc., locally, from |
| Antonyms | dismiss, remove, revoke | dismiss, fire |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'appoint' vs 'assign'; appoint is for formal roles., Using 'appoint' without an accompanying object., Incorrectly conjugating 'appoint' in different tenses. | 'Hired' as a noun instead of a verb., Confusing 'hire' with 'borrow'., Not using the right preposition, e.g., 'hire for' instead of 'hire to'. |
| Usage notes | Typically used in formal contexts like hiring or assigning roles. Not suitable for informal conversations. | Used in both formal and informal contexts. Suitable for job-related discussions but less appropriate for casual conversations unless referring to a personal task. |
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Frequently asked questions: Appoint vs Hire
What's the difference between Appoint and Hire?
Appoint: To choose someone for a job or position. Hire: To pay someone to do a job.
Which is more formal: Appoint and Hire?
Appoint is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Appoint and Hire?
Hire is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Appoint and Hire?
Appoint is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Appoint and Hire the same CEFR level?
Appoint: C1, Hire: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Appoint and Hire?
Appoint: verb, Hire: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Appoint: The board will appoint a new CEO next month. Hire: We decided to hire a new employee for the marketing department.
Can I use Appoint and Hire interchangeably?
Not always. Appoint and Hire are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.