Standard Lemma guide

arrogate

verb · 4 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.

  • /ˈæɹəɡeɪt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: AE1 R OW0 G EY2 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To appropriate or lay claim to something for oneself without right.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive, uncommon

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: commandeer, expropriate, usurp

Antonyms: abandon, abdicate, relinquish, renounce

2

verb

Meaning 2

seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He assumed to himself the right to fill all positions in the town
  • he usurped my rights
  • She seized control of the throne after her husband died

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: assume, usurp, seize, take over

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: take

Narrower terms: annex, appropriate, capture, seize, conquer, preoccupy, hijack, raid

3

verb

Meaning 3

demand as being one's due or property; assert one's right or title to

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He claimed his suitcases at the airline counter
  • Mr. Smith claims special tax exemptions because he is a foreign resident

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: claim, lay claim

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: request, bespeak, call for, quest

Narrower terms: pretend, requisition, arrogate, assign

4

verb

Meaning 4

make undue claims to having

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: assign

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: claim, lay claim, arrogate

History

Etymology

From Latin arrogātus, perfect passive participle of adrogō, arrogō (“ask of, adopt, appropriate, assume”), from ad (“to”) + rogō (“ask”).

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Esperanto: arogi — to appropriate or lay claim to something without right
  • French: s'arroger — to appropriate or lay claim to something without right
  • German: an sich reißen — to appropriate or lay claim to something without right
  • Ido: arogar — to appropriate or lay claim to something without right
  • Japanese: 横取りする (yokodori suru) — to appropriate or lay claim to something without right
  • Norwegian: tilta seg — to appropriate or lay claim to something without right
  • Norwegian: rive til seg — to appropriate or lay claim to something without right
  • Norwegian: rane til seg — to appropriate or lay claim to something without right
  • Norwegian: tilrane seg — to appropriate or lay claim to something without right
  • Norwegian: tilrive seg — to appropriate or lay claim to something without right
  • Norwegian: tiltvinge seg — to appropriate or lay claim to something without right
  • Portuguese: arrogar — to appropriate or lay claim to something without right
  • Russian: самонаде́янно претендова́ть (samonadéjanno pretendovátʹ) — to appropriate or lay claim to something without right
  • Spanish: arrogarse — to appropriate or lay claim to something without right
  • Swedish: tillvälla sig — to appropriate or lay claim to something without right
  • Swedish: tillskansa sig — to appropriate or lay claim to something without right