Appropriate - Oxford Learner's Dictionaries

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Definition of appropriate verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

appropriate verb  /əˈprəʊprieɪt/  /əˈprəʊprieɪt/ (formal)Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they appropriate	/əˈprəʊprieɪt/  /əˈprəʊprieɪt/
he / she / it appropriates	/əˈprəʊprieɪts/  /əˈprəʊprieɪts/
past simple appropriated	/əˈprəʊprieɪtɪd/  /əˈprəʊprieɪtɪd/
past participle appropriated	/əˈprəʊprieɪtɪd/  /əˈprəʊprieɪtɪd/
-ing form appropriating	/əˈprəʊprieɪtɪŋ/  /əˈprəʊprieɪtɪŋ/

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1. appropriate something to take something, somebody’s ideas, etc. for your own use, especially illegally or without permission
   • He was accused of appropriating club funds.
   • Some of the opposition party's policies have been appropriated by the government.
   Topics Crime and punishmentc2

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2. appropriate something (for something) to take or give something, especially money for a particular purpose
   • Five million dollars have been appropriated for research into the disease.
compare misappropriateWord Originlate Middle English: from late Latin appropriatus, past participle of appropriare ‘make one's own’, from ad- ‘to’ + proprius ‘own, proper’.

See appropriate in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee appropriate in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishCheck pronunciation: appropriate

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• appropriate adjective

Nearby words

• appropriacy noun
• appropriate adjective
• appropriate verb
• appropriately adverb
• appropriateness noun

tactful adjective From the Topic Personal qualities C1 Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day