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appropriate

[ adjective uh-proh-pree-it; verb uh-proh-pree-eyt ]
/ adjective əˈproʊ pri ɪt; verb əˈproʊ priˌeɪt /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR appropriate ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

suitable or fitting for a particular purpose, person, occasion, etc.: an appropriate example; an appropriate dress.
belonging to or peculiar to a person; proper: Each played his appropriate part.

verb (used with object), ap·pro·pri·at·ed, ap·pro·pri·at·ing.

to set apart, authorize, or legislate for some specific purpose or use: The legislature appropriated funds for the university.
to take to or for oneself; take possession of.
to take without permission or consent; seize; expropriate: He appropriated the trust funds for himself.
to steal, especially to commit petty theft.

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RELATED WORDS

relevant, useful, convenient, applicable, apt, fitting, good, proper, pertinent, correct, opportune, true, apportion, devote, earmark, allot, disburse, embezzle, misappropriate, borrow

Nearby words

  1. approbation,
  2. approbative,
  3. appropre,
  4. appropriable,
  5. appropriacy,
  6. appropriation,
  7. approvable,
  8. approval,
  9. approve,
  10. approved

Origin of appropriate

1515–25; < Late Latin appropriātus made one's own (past participle of appropriāre), equivalent to Latin ap- ap-1 + propri(us) one's own + -ātus -ate1
Related forms
Can be confusedappropriate apropos expropriate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for appropriate

British Dictionary definitions for appropriate

appropriate

adjective (əˈprəʊprɪɪt)

right or suitable; fitting
rare particular; ownthey had their appropriate methods

verb (əˈprəʊprɪˌeɪt) (tr)

to take for one's own use, esp illegally or without permission
to put aside (funds, etc) for a particular purpose or person
Derived Forms

Word Origin for appropriate

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