appropriate

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/əˈproʊpriət/
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A fit for a purpose or occasion, and in its verb uses the act of making something one's own or setting resources aside for a stated use.
Practice using appropriate in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • The empire appropriated land from nearby villages.
  • No funds were appropriated for the pilot program.
  • The official appropriated public money for private travel.
  • A rival company appropriated the slogan without credit.
  • The council will appropriate land for the new park.

Similar words

seize
earmark
proper
designate
expropriate
allocate
apt
apportion
usurp
fitting

Meanings

Suitable for the situation

adjective
everyday
neutral
Right, fitting, or acceptable for a particular purpose, occasion, person, or standard.

Examples

  • The school chose an appropriate book for younger readers.
  • A brief apology was the appropriate response.
  • Jeans are not appropriate for a formal ceremony.
  • The doctor recommended treatment appropriate to the injury.
  • Please delete whichever option is not appropriate.
  • His calm tone felt appropriate after the bad news.
  • The software suggests an appropriate file format.

Similar words

suitable
fitting
proper
apt
right
acceptable

Take for one's own use

verb
law
formal
To take possession of something, often money, property, ideas, land, or cultural material, especially without the right to do so.

Examples

  • The official appropriated public money for private travel.
  • The designer was accused of appropriating sacred symbols.
  • The empire appropriated land from nearby villages.
  • A rival company appropriated the slogan without credit.
  • The novel appropriates the voice of a real historical figure.
  • They appropriated the empty building as a shelter.
  • The lawsuit claims the app appropriated users' likenesses.

Similar words

seize
take
commandeer
expropriate
usurp
misappropriate

Set aside for a purpose

verb
government
formal
To officially assign money, time, land, or other resources to a particular purpose or recipient.

Examples

  • Congress appropriated funds for disaster relief.
  • The council will appropriate land for the new park.
  • The grant appropriates money to rural clinics.
  • The university appropriated extra space for the archive.
  • No funds were appropriated for the pilot program.
  • The board appropriates staff time to urgent projects.
  • A separate account was appropriated for legal costs.

Similar words

allocate
assign
earmark
designate
apportion
budget

Particular to something

adjective
literary
archaic
Belonging especially to a person, thing, role, or subject, in a rare older use close to own or proper.

Examples

  • Each office retained its appropriate duties.
  • The ritual had symbols appropriate to each season.
  • The old grammar assigns each case its appropriate ending.
  • Every craft was taught by its appropriate master.
  • The manuscript gives each rank an appropriate title.
  • These were the appropriate privileges of the office.
  • The phrase survives mostly in older texts with its appropriate force.

Similar words

particular
own
proper
peculiar
specific
distinctive

Etymology

From Late Latin appropriatus, the past participle of appropriare, meaning to make one's own, from Latin ad and proprius, one's own.

FAQ

What does appropriate mean as an adjective?

Appropriate means suitable, fitting, or acceptable for a particular situation, purpose, person, or occasion.

What does appropriate mean as a verb?

As a verb, appropriate can mean to take something for one's own use or to officially set resources aside for a purpose.

Is appropriate pronounced the same as an adjective and a verb?

No. The adjective is usually /əˈproʊpriət/, while the verb is usually pronounced with a final /eɪt/ sound.

Can appropriate mean steal?

Yes. In formal use it can mean taking money, property, ideas, or cultural material without authority or consent.

What preposition follows appropriate?

Use appropriate for a person or purpose, appropriate to a situation or standard, and appropriate funds for a project.

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