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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 synonyms for: appropriate / appropriated / appropriating / appropriately 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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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 -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM appropriate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH appropriate

1. appropriate , apropos2. appropriate , expropriate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to appropriate

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

How to use appropriate in a sentence

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 of appropriate

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
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