adj · verb · 12 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:əprō'priĭt
Received-Pronunciation:əprō'priət
Received-Pronunciation:/əˈpɹəʊ.pɹi.ɪt/
Received-Pronunciation:/əˈpɹəʊ.pɹi.ət/
US:əprō'priĭt
US:əprō'priət
US:/əˈpɹoʊ.pɹi.ɪt/
US:/əˈpɹoʊ.pɹi.ət/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Received-Pronunciation:/əˈpɹəʊ.pɹi.eɪt/
US:/əˈpɹoʊ.pɹi.eɪt/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:AH0 P R OW1 P R IY0 AH0 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:AH0 P R OW1 P R IY0 EY2 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Suitable or fit; proper; felicitous.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The headmaster wondered what an appropriate measure would be to make the pupil behave better.
1798-1801, Beilby Porteus, Lecture XI delivered in the Parish Church of St. James, Westminster in its strict and appropriate meaning
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Suitable to the social situation or to social respect or social discreetness; socially correct; socially discreet; well-mannered; proper.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
I don't think it was appropriate for the cashier to tell me out loud in front of all those people at the checkout that my hairpiece looked like it was falling out of place.
While it is not considered appropriate for a professor to date his student, there is no such concern once the semester has ended.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Set apart for a particular use or person; reserved.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Of an action or thing: morally good; positive.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Rescuing animals is an appropriate thing to do.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adj
Meaning 5
Of an action or thing: pleasant.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To take to oneself; to claim or use, especially as by an exclusive right.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
Let no man appropriate the use of a common benefit.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
To set apart for, or assign to, a particular person or use, especially in exclusion of all others; with to or for.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
A spot of ground is appropriated for a garden.
to appropriate money for the increase of the navy
2012, The Washington Post, David Nakamura and Tom Hamburger, "Put armed police in every school, NRA urges" "I call on Congress today to act immediately to appropriate whatever is necessary to put armed police officers in every single school in this nation," LaPierre said.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
verb
Meaning 8
To annex (for example a benefice, to a spiritual corporation, as its property).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, transitive
Topics: ecclesiastical, law, lifestyle, religion
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
verb
Meaning 9
To make suitable to; to suit.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
adjective
Meaning 10
suitable for a particular person or place or condition etc
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a book not appropriate for children
a funeral conducted the appropriate solemnity
it seems that an apology is appropriate
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: inappropriate
11
verb
Meaning 11
give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
I will earmark this money for your research
She sets aside time for meditation every day
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: allow, earmark, set aside, reserve
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: assign, allot, portion
12
verb
Meaning 12
take possession of by force, as after an invasion
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitants
The army seized the town
The militia captured the castle
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: capture, seize, conquer
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: assume, usurp, seize, take over, arrogate
Narrower terms: carry
History
Etymology
From Middle English appropriat (“appropriated”), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more.
From Middle English appropriaten, from appropriat (“appropriated”) + -en, borrowed from Latin appropriātus, perfect passive participle of appropriō (“to make one's own”), from ad (“to”) + propriō (“to make one's own”), from proprius (“one's own, private”) + -ō (first conjugation verb-forming suffix).
Across languages
Translations
245 source translations are retained for this English entry.
