appropriate

[ adjective uh-proh-pree-it; verb uh-proh-pree-eyt ]

adjective

1. suitable or fitting for a particular purpose, person, occasion, etc.:

   an appropriate example;

   an appropriate dress.

   Synonyms: meet, pertinent, becoming, due, proper, suited, felicitous, apt, befitting

   Antonyms: inept, inappropriate, unsuitable

2. belonging to or peculiar to a person; proper:

   Each played his appropriate part.

verb (used with object)

, ap·pro·pri·at·ed, ap·pro·pri·at·ing.

1. to set apart, authorize, or legislate for some specific purpose or use:

   The legislature appropriated funds for the university.

   Synonyms: assign, allocate, apportion

2. to take to or for oneself; take possession of.
3. to take without permission or consent; seize; expropriate:

   He appropriated the trust funds for himself.

4. to steal, especially to commit petty theft.

appropriate

adjective

1. right or suitable; fitting
2. rare.
   particular; own

   they had their appropriate methods

verb

1. to take for one's own use, esp illegally or without permission
2. to put aside (funds, etc) for a particular purpose or person

Derived Forms

• apˈpropriateness, noun
• apˈpropriable, adjective
• apˈpropriative, adjective
• apˈpropriately, adverb
• apˈpropriˌator, noun

Other Words From

• ap·pro·pri·ate·ly adverb
• ap·pro·pri·ate·ness noun
• ap·pro·pri·a·tive [uh, -, proh, -pree-ey-tiv, -, uh, -tiv], adjective
• ap·pro·pri·a·tive·ness noun
• ap·pro·pri·a·tor noun
• non·ap·pro·pri·a·tive adjective
• qua·si-ap·pro·pri·ate adjective
• re·ap·pro·pri·ate verb (used with object) reappropriated reappropriating
• well-ap·pro·pri·at·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of appropriate¹

First recorded in 1515–25; from Late Latin appropriātus “made one's own” (past participle of appropriāre ), equivalent to Latin ap- ap- ¹ + propri(us) “one's own, special, particular” + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of appropriate¹

C15: from Late Latin appropriāre to make one's own, from Latin proprius one's own; see proper

Example Sentences

He would wear the appropriate religious attire for each setting, sometimes knelt in supplication and on occasion was moved to tears by sermons.

From BBC

Sensory cortices on the other hand play an important role in how we perceive our environment and make appropriate movements, and how our brains determine what to focus on and what to ignore.

From Science Daily

There is a time and a place for belting into song, with some appropriate options being the shower, the car, cleaning the house, making a pot of spaghetti, etc.

From Salon

The four forces in Wales said they have dedicated staff and officers to identify cases where an order may be appropriate.

From BBC

“I think it’s very clear that there are certain things that are appropriate for kids, certain things that are appropriate for adults. We’re just getting back to commonsense America.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• applicable
• apt
• convenient
• correct
• fitting
• good
• opportune
• pertinent
• proper
• relevant
• true
• useful