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 university appropriated extra space for the archive.
  • The software suggests an appropriate file format.
  • Jeans are not appropriate for a formal ceremony.
  • They appropriated the empty building as a shelter.
  • A rival company appropriated the slogan without credit.

Similar words

usurp
expropriate
misappropriate
specific
apportion
take
particular
proper
own
suitable

Meanings

Suitable for the situation

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

Usage

Use appropriate for something that fits the context, especially when suitability depends on rules, tone, age, timing, or purpose.

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.

Common mistakes

Appropriate to and appropriate for are confused when the fit is being judged against a situation or purpose.
IncorrectCorrect
This movie is appropriate to small children. This movie is appropriate for small children.
It is appropriate to wear sandals at the formal dinner. It is appropriate to wear dress shoes at the formal dinner.
The teacher appropriated a book for the class. The teacher chose an appropriate book for the class.

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.

Usage

Use appropriate for formal or critical descriptions of taking something over as one's own, not for ordinary borrowing or choosing.

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.

Common mistakes

The verb needs a direct object, and it is stronger than simply borrowing or using something.
IncorrectCorrect
The artist appropriated from her colleague. The artist appropriated her colleague's design.
Can I appropriate your pen for five minutes? Can I borrow your pen for five minutes?
He appropriate the company funds. He appropriated the company funds.

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.

Usage

Use appropriate for formal allocations, especially budgets and public funds, where an authority sets resources aside.

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.

Common mistakes

Appropriate for names the purpose, while appropriate from wrongly suggests the resource is being taken away.
IncorrectCorrect
Congress appropriated money from the bridge repairs. Congress appropriated money for the bridge repairs.
The city appropriate funds for the clinic. The city appropriated funds for the clinic.
The committee appropriated a suggestion for the report. The committee adopted a suggestion for the report.

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.

Usage

Use appropriate in this sense only when reading or echoing older formal prose, since modern writing normally uses particular, 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.

Common mistakes

The rare ownership sense is mistaken for the ordinary suitability sense in modern prose.
IncorrectCorrect
Each tool has an appropriate name, so choose a suitable one. Each tool has its appropriate name, meaning its proper name.
The appropriate customs of the village were suitable for tourists. The particular customs of the village were its appropriate customs.
Use appropriate to mean own in everyday emails. Use own or particular in everyday emails.

Similar words

particular
own
proper
peculiar
specific
distinctive

Usage

Use the adjective for suitability, the taking verb for possession or unauthorized use, and the allocation verb for formal budgets or resources.

Common mistakes

Appropriate for is used where appropriate to fits better, and the adjective is confused with the verb pronounced with final /eɪt/.

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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