delegate
To assign a task or responsibility to someone else.
Examples
In a meeting
“You should delegate the research tasks so you can focus on strategy.”
Over coffee
“I delegated the party planning to my roommate.”
Why this word
assign
Delegate implies transferring authority along with the task, while assign just gives someone work to do
give
Delegate is specific to transferring responsibility and decision-making power in professional contexts
hand off
Delegate is more formal and implies trust in another's capability, appropriate for professional settings
Usage tip
Implies trust and authority transfer, not just dumping work. You delegate both the task and the responsibility.
Etymology
Latin delegare — de (away) + legare (to send, appoint)
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Related words
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Acting independently or having the freedom to govern itself.
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Motivate someone by offering rewards or benefits
proactive
Acting in advance to deal with expected situations
deplete
To use up or reduce a resource significantly
pioneer
Be among the first to develop or apply something new
empower
To give someone the authority or confidence to do something