Appropriate Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms appropriate American [uh-proh-pree-it, uh-proh-pree-eyt] / əˈproʊ pri ɪt, əˈproʊ priˌeɪt /

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)

appropriated, appropriating

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 British

adjective

1. right or suitable; fitting

2. rare particular; own

   they had their appropriate methods

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

• appropriable adjective
• appropriately adverb
• appropriateness noun
• appropriative adjective
• appropriativeness noun
• appropriator noun
• nonappropriative adjective
• quasi-appropriate adjective
• reappropriate verb (used with object)
• well-appropriated adjective

Etymology

Origin of appropriate

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There has been an understandable and appropriate silence in that respect from people inside boxing.

From BBC

Its military said it has deployed "appropriate forces" and "carried out a rapid response exercise".

From Barron's

Gerstner’s shirt was blue, perhaps appropriate for a company nicknamed Big Blue.

From The Wall Street Journal

It is more appropriate for jet lag and short-term use, said St-Onge.

From The Wall Street Journal

Meanwhile, another board member said that it is desirable to make decisions as appropriate at each policy meeting without having a specific pace in mind.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.