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Synonyms

apropos

American  
[ap-ruh-poh] / ˌæp rəˈpoʊ /

adverb

  1. fitting; at the right time; to the purpose; opportunely.

  2. Obsolete. by the way.

adjective

  1. opportune; pertinent.

    apropos remarks.

idioms

  1. apropos of, with reference to; in respect or regard to.

    apropos of the preceding statement.
apropos British  
/ ˌæprəˈpəʊ /

adjective

  1. appropriate; pertinent

"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

adverb

  1. appropriately or pertinently

  2. by the way; incidentally

  3. (preposition) with regard to; in respect of

"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

Etymology

Origin of apropos

First recorded in 1660–70; from French à propos literally, “to purpose,” from Latin ad prōpositum; ad-, proposition

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That is especially apropos for Andersen, which priced its initial public offering on Dec. 16.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 29, 2025

I’ll go another round with it in a more apropos ring.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 11, 2025

During an appearance on The Late Show, when Stephen Colbert asked, apropos of nothing, if she has a favorite novelty flag to display at her home, Jackson laughed and offered a polite “no comment.”

From Slate • Oct. 4, 2024

Over and over again he kept bringing it up, apropos of nothing, as if on a loop.

From Salon • Aug. 9, 2024

Suddenly, apropos of nothing beyond what was churning in his head and heart, C.P. said, “I don’t feel comfortable here.”

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.