appropriate

[adjective uh-proh-pree-it; verb uh-proh-pree-eyt]

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.

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 formsap·pro·pri·ate·ly, adverbap·pro·pri·ate·ness, nounap·pro·pri·a·tive

[uh-proh-pree-ey-tiv, -uh-tiv] /əˈproʊ priˌeɪ tɪv, -ə tɪv/, adjectiveap·pro·pri·a·tive·ness, nounap·pro·pri·a·tor, nounnon·ap·pro·pri·a·tive, adjectivequa·si-ap·pro·pri·ate, adjectivequa·si-ap·pro·pri·ate·ly, adverbre·ap·pro·pri·ate, verb (used with object), re·ap·pro·pri·at·ed, re·ap·pro·pri·at·ing.well-ap·pro·pri·at·ed, adjective

Can be confusedappropriate apropos expropriate

Synonyms for appropriate

1. befitting, apt, meet, felicitous, suited, proper, due, becoming, pertinent. 3. apportion, allocate, assign.

Antonyms for appropriate

1. unsuitable, inept.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for reappropriate

Historical Examples of reappropriate

Now you seek to reappropriate this water, or to have the right cancelled, and see where you wind up.
The Iron Furrow
George C. Shedd

British Dictionary definitions for reappropriate

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 Formsappropriable, adjectiveappropriately, adverbappropriateness, nounappropriative, adjectiveappropriator, noun

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

Word Origin and History for reappropriate

appropriate

early 15c., "take possession of," from Late Latin appropriatus, past participle of appropriare, adpropriare (c.450) "to make one's own," from Latin ad- "to" (see ad-) + propriare "take as one's own," from proprius "one's own" (see proper). Related: Appropriated; appropriating.

appropriate

adj.

"specially suitable, proper," early 15c., from Latin appropriatus, past participle of appropriare (see appropriate (v.)). Related: Appropriately; appropriateness.