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

"The advice we're getting is other things, such as dispersal orders, are more appropriate for the kind of disorder that happened in areas like Sighthill," she said.

From BBC

“It just seems really appropriate because it ties in present-day immigrant communities with the longer history of Mexican immigrant communities.”

From Los Angeles Times

In a joint statement released after the raid, Hyundai and LG energy said they were "co-operating fully with the appropriate authorities regarding activity at our construction site. To assist their work, we have paused construction."

From BBC

“Do I need to analyze whether it’s appropriate for parents to be able to decide what goes into the children’s bodies?”

From Salon

"It will rightly be a matter for the police to take action as they deem appropriate."

From BBC

Related Words

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