appropriate

[uh-proh-pree-it, uh-proh-pree-eyt]

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

adjective

1. right or suitable; fitting

2. rare,  particular; own

   they had their appropriate methods

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of appropriate¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of appropriate¹

C15: from Late Latin appropriāre to make one's own, from Latin proprius one's own; see _proper

Example Sentences

Indyke’s lawyer said his compensation was appropriate given his nearly 23 years of legal services for Epstein.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

With inflation stubbornly above the Fed’s target, that stance is probably still the appropriate rate setting, Collins said—especially given that a strong run in financial markets has supported the economy’s resilience.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Over the past month, there have been sharp public disagreements among Federal Reserve officials about the likely path of the economy and the appropriate level of interest rates.

Read more on MarketWatch

Gen. Rob Bonta, who said he would “review the case and identify any appropriate responses to it.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The researchers stress that additional preclinical and clinical studies are essential to confirm whether these effects will translate to humans and to determine appropriate dosing strategies.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

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