What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
consigned
Example
I consigned my jewelry to the bank's safety deposit box. [consigned: verb]
Example
The company consigned the shipment to a reliable courier service. [consigned: past tense]
Example
The team was consigned to the lower division after losing the final game. [consigned: past participle]
assign
Example
The teacher will assign homework every day. [assign: verb]
Example
The manager assigned the new project to the most experienced team member. [assigned: past tense]
Example
The article assigned blame to the government for the economic crisis. [assigned: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Assign is more commonly used than consigned in everyday language. Assign is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while consigned is less common and refers to specific situations such as shipping or delivering goods.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between consigned and assign?
Both consigned and assign can be used in formal or informal contexts. However, assign is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts, while consigned is less versatile and is typically associated with a more formal tone.