Explanation at your level:
An appointment is a time to meet. You tell a doctor, 'I have an appointment at 2 PM.' It means you have a plan to see them. You must be on time for your appointment. It is a very useful word for when you need help from a professional.
When you have a doctor's appointment, you have a specific time to see the doctor. You need to call them to make the appointment. If you cannot go, you should cancel the appointment. It is important to be polite and arrive on time for all your appointments.
An appointment is a formal arrangement to meet someone. You might have an appointment for a job interview or to see a dentist. We use the verb 'make' or 'book' with this noun. If you are busy, you might say, 'I have a prior engagement,' but 'I have an appointment' is more common and direct.
Beyond just meetings, appointment refers to the act of choosing someone for a position. For example, the 'appointment of a new CEO' is a big deal in a company. It implies an official, often legal, process of selection. Whether scheduling a meeting or accepting a role, the word carries a sense of professional obligation and commitment.
In advanced English, appointment can take on a more nuanced tone. It can refer to the 'appointments' of a house—meaning the furnishings and equipment within it. Furthermore, in political discourse, the 'appointment' of judges or cabinet members is a critical subject of debate, highlighting the power dynamics involved in such decisions. It is a word that balances the mundane (a haircut) with the significant (a government post).
Historically and literarily, appointment has been used to describe the 'equipping' of a person, such as a knight's armor. In modern usage, it remains a pillar of professional communication. The distinction between a 'meeting' and an 'appointment' is subtle: a meeting is often collaborative and peer-to-peer, whereas an appointment often implies a service-provider relationship or a formal assignment of duty. Mastering this word allows you to navigate both the social expectations of punctuality and the formal structures of institutional hierarchies with precision.
Palavra em 30 segundos
- An appointment is a scheduled meeting.
- Use 'make' or 'book' to schedule one.
- It is a countable noun.
- It implies a professional commitment.
Think of an appointment as a reserved slice of time. Whether you are heading to the dentist or meeting a client, it is a formal commitment to be somewhere specific at a specific moment.
When we talk about appointments, we are usually discussing professional or scheduled interactions. It implies that both parties have agreed to prioritize this time, making it much more structured than just 'hanging out' with friends.
Beyond meetings, the word has a second, weightier meaning: the act of appointing someone to a role. If a government official is given a new job, that is an appointment. It is about authority and duty.
The word appointment travels back to the Old French word apointement, which essentially meant 'to bring to a point' or 'to settle.' It is rooted in the idea of fixing something in place.
Historically, it evolved from the Latin appunctare, combining ad- (to) and punctus (a point). This is the same root as the word 'point.' Imagine drawing a dot on a calendar—that is exactly what an appointment is!
By the 15th century, the word entered Middle English. Originally, it was heavily used in legal and military contexts to describe the 'equipping' of soldiers or the 'settlement' of a dispute. Over time, it softened into our modern usage of scheduling meetings and filling job roles.
In daily life, we almost always make or book an appointment. You rarely 'do' an appointment; it is an action of scheduling.
Common collocations include doctor's appointment, business appointment, and hair appointment. Notice how we often add the possessive 's' to the person we are visiting.
The register is generally neutral to formal. If you are talking to a close friend, you might say 'let's meet up,' but in a professional setting, 'I have an appointment' is the standard way to explain your schedule.
1. By appointment only: This means you cannot just walk in; you must schedule ahead. 2. Miss an appointment: To fail to show up at the agreed time. 3. Keep an appointment: To show up exactly when you said you would. 4. A standing appointment: A meeting that happens regularly, like every Tuesday. 5. To have an appointment with destiny: A dramatic way of saying you are about to face a major, life-changing event.
The word is a countable noun. You can have one appointment or many appointments. We usually use the indefinite article 'an' because it starts with a vowel sound.
Pronunciation: In British English, it is /əˈpɔɪnt.mənt/; in American English, it is /əˈpɔɪnt.mənt/. The stress is always on the second syllable: a-POINT-ment.
Rhyming words include announcement, disappointment, and entrenchment. Remember that the 't' at the end is often glottalized in casual speech, but try to enunciate it clearly in formal settings.
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'point'—literally marking a point on a calendar.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 't' sounds, neutral vowel start.
Often drops the final 't' slightly or makes it a glottal stop.
Common Errors
- Misplacing the stress on the first syllable
- Pronouncing it like 'a-point-ment' without the schwa
- Confusing it with 'announcement'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to use in sentences
Common in daily speech
Clear pronunciation
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avançado
Grammar to Know
Articles with Nouns
an appointment
Prepositions of Time
at 3 PM
Countable Nouns
two appointments
Examples by Level
I have a doctor's appointment today.
I have a time to see the doctor today.
Use 'a' before appointment.
Do you have an appointment?
Do you have a scheduled time?
Use 'an' because of the vowel sound.
My appointment is at ten.
The time is ten o'clock.
Use 'at' for time.
I need to make an appointment.
I must schedule a time.
Collocation: make an appointment.
The appointment is short.
The time is not long.
Adjective + noun.
She has an appointment now.
She is meeting someone now.
Present tense.
I missed my appointment.
I did not go to the meeting.
Past tense verb.
Is the appointment free?
Does it cost money?
Question structure.
I have a dentist appointment on Monday.
Please call to book an appointment.
He canceled his appointment last night.
The manager confirmed the appointment.
I am late for my appointment.
She is waiting for her appointment.
Can we change the appointment time?
The appointment lasted thirty minutes.
The CEO announced the appointment of the new director.
I have a standing appointment every Friday.
It is difficult to get an appointment with that specialist.
Please arrive ten minutes before your appointment.
I had to reschedule my appointment due to work.
The appointment was set for early morning.
She was pleased with her new appointment to the board.
Make sure to keep your appointment with the accountant.
The appointment of the judge was highly controversial.
The house was well-appointed with modern furniture.
I have a prior appointment that I cannot break.
The committee finalized the appointment process.
He accepted the appointment as ambassador with pride.
The doctor has no more appointments available today.
We need to discuss the appointment of a new project lead.
Her appointment to the position was well-deserved.
The luxurious appointments of the mansion were breathtaking.
The appointment of the new cabinet caused a stir in the media.
He was frustrated by the rigid appointment system.
She sought an appointment with the minister to discuss policy.
The appointment of the successor was kept secret for months.
His appointment to the chair of history was a prestigious honor.
The room was simple, lacking any fancy appointments.
She treated the appointment with the utmost seriousness.
The formal appointment of the delegates was a historic event.
The interior appointments reflected the owner's refined taste.
He viewed his appointment as a burden rather than a reward.
The appointment of the new bishop was confirmed by the Vatican.
Despite his lack of experience, his appointment was widely supported.
The appointment of an independent auditor was necessary.
She was meticulous about the appointments of her private office.
The appointment was a matter of protocol rather than merit.
Sinônimos
Antônimos
Colocações comuns
Idioms & Expressions
"by appointment only"
must have an appointment to enter
The gallery is by appointment only.
formal"miss an appointment"
fail to attend
Don't miss your appointment.
neutral"keep an appointment"
attend as planned
He always keeps his appointments.
neutral"a standing appointment"
regular, recurring meeting
We have a standing appointment for coffee.
neutral"appointment with destiny"
a major life event
He felt he had an appointment with destiny.
literaryEasily Confused
Both involve seeing people
Meeting is often group-based; appointment is service-based
The team meeting vs. my dentist appointment.
Both are scheduled
Date is social/romantic
I have a date tonight.
Both are scheduled
Interview is for a job or information
I have a job interview.
Both are professional
Consultation is specifically for advice
A medical consultation.
Sentence Patterns
I have an appointment with [person].
I have an appointment with the dentist.
I need to make an appointment for [purpose].
I need to make an appointment for a check-up.
The appointment is at [time].
The appointment is at 3 PM.
She was appointed as [role].
She was appointed as the new manager.
They have a standing appointment on [day].
They have a standing appointment on Mondays.
Família de palavras
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Relacionado
How to Use It
9
Formality Scale
Erros comuns
We use 'with' for people/professionals.
We don't 'do' an appointment.
Use 'at' for specific times.
Use the noun as an adjective.
Appointments happen in places, not people.
Tips
The Calendar Dot
Visualize a dot on your calendar to remember the 'point' in appointment.
The 'With' Rule
Always use 'appointment with' when talking about people.
Be On Time
In the US/UK, being 5 minutes early is better than being 5 minutes late.
Countable Noun
Remember to use 'an' or 'a' before it.
Stress the Middle
Say a-POINT-ment, not A-point-ment.
Don't 'Do'
Never say 'do an appointment'.
Root Word
It comes from the same Latin word as 'point'.
Roleplay
Practice calling a doctor's office with a friend.
Professional Context
Use it when you need to sound organized.
Pluralize
You can have multiple appointments in one day.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
A-POINT-ment: You have a POINT on the calendar to be somewhere.
Visual Association
A calendar with a big red dot on a specific day.
Word Web
Desafio
Write down three appointments you have this week.
Origem da palavra
Old French / Latin
Original meaning: To bring to a point or settle
Contexto cultural
None
Punctuality is highly valued in English-speaking cultures; missing an appointment without notice is considered rude.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Medical
- doctor's appointment
- check-up
- reschedule
Business
- client appointment
- board appointment
- confirm the time
Daily Life
- hair appointment
- nail appointment
- running late
Government
- official appointment
- cabinet appointment
- public office
Conversation Starters
"Do you have any appointments this week?"
"How do you usually keep track of your appointments?"
"Have you ever missed an important appointment?"
"Is it hard to get an appointment with your doctor?"
"What is the most important appointment you have ever had?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you were late for an important appointment.
Why is it important to keep professional appointments?
If you could have an appointment with anyone, who would it be?
How does your schedule change when you have many appointments?
Perguntas frequentes
8 perguntasUsually, an appointment is one-on-one with a professional, while a meeting is a group.
No, use 'with' the dentist.
A recurring meeting that happens at the same time every week or month.
No, only for services that require scheduling.
Call or email the person you were supposed to meet as soon as possible.
It is professional, but very common in daily life.
It means a room or house is well-furnished.
No, that would sound very strange; use 'date' or 'meeting'.
Teste-se
I have a doctor's ___ today.
It is a scheduled meeting.
Which verb goes with 'appointment'?
We say 'make an appointment'.
You can 'do' an appointment.
We say 'have' or 'make' an appointment.
Word
Significado
Common verbs.
Subject + verb + object.
Pontuação: /5
Summary
An appointment is a promise to be in a specific place at a specific time.
- An appointment is a scheduled meeting.
- Use 'make' or 'book' to schedule one.
- It is a countable noun.
- It implies a professional commitment.
The Calendar Dot
Visualize a dot on your calendar to remember the 'point' in appointment.
The 'With' Rule
Always use 'appointment with' when talking about people.
Be On Time
In the US/UK, being 5 minutes early is better than being 5 minutes late.
Countable Noun
Remember to use 'an' or 'a' before it.
Exemplo
I have a dentist appointment at 3 PM, so I'll be leaving the office early.
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