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.

Several buildings have collapsed before in Tripoli and other parts of the country over the years, with the authorities failing to take appropriate measures to ensure structural safety.

From Barron's

The mining firm says it is "awaiting confirmation from the Mexican authorities and will provide further updates as appropriate."

From BBC

Air Canada added that it will monitor the situation to determine an appropriate restart of normal service to Cuba at a future date.

From The Wall Street Journal

The forces driving markets are already in motion, and patience, rather than repositioning, remains the appropriate response.

From MarketWatch

“I don’t mind any of them, but dwarf is the appropriate word since I have dwarfism. But the acceptable term if you want to be politically correct is little person.”

From Literature

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.