To nominate someone means to officially suggest or propose them for a position, award, or honor. When your class nominates students for student council, you're putting forward names of people you think would do a good job. When the Academy nominates movies for Best Picture, they're selecting films they believe deserve recognition.

The word comes from choosing by name: you name someone as worthy of consideration. A teacher might nominate an exceptional student for a scholarship. A committee might nominate a scientist for a prestigious prize. Political parties nominate candidates to run for office.

Getting nominated doesn't guarantee you'll win. It means you've made it onto a shortlist of worthy contenders. If five books are nominated for the Newbery Medal, judges will choose one winner from among those nominees. Being nominated is itself an honor, showing that knowledgeable people recognized your achievement.

The person who gets nominated is called a nominee. After someone nominates you, others usually vote or decide whether you'll actually get the position or award. The act of proposing someone is called a nomination.