Appropriate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ə-ˈprō-prē-ət/ (adjective) /ə-ˈprō-prē-ˌāt/ (verb) ap·pro·pri·ate

Meaning & Definition of Appropriate

Appropriate (adjective)

  1. especially suitable or compatible, fitting

Appropriate (verb)

  1. to take exclusive possession of, annex
  2. to set apart for or assign to a particular purpose or use
  3. to take or make use of without authority or right

Appropriate (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation

    "I don't think jeans and a T-shirt are appropriate attire for a wedding"

    similar: applicable, apt, becoming, befitting, felicitous, fit, fitted, fitting, good, happy, meet, pretty, proper, right, suitable, in order
    related: condign, deserved, just, justified, needed, required, requisite, able, capable, competent, cut out, qualified, trained, pitch-perfect, acceptable, adequate, decent, kosher, satisfactory, serviceable, tolerable, correct, decorous, respectable, seemly, balanced, companionate, congruous, consonant, harmonious, rightful
    opposite: improper, inapplicable, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt, incongruous, indecent, infelicitous, malapropos, misbecoming, unapt, unbecoming, unbeseeming, unfit, unfitting, unhappy, unmeet, unseemly, unsuitable, wrong
    near: incapable, incompetent, inept, inexpert, unqualified, unskilled, unskillful, untrained, inadequate, intolerable, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, graceless, incorrect, indecorous, incompatible, uncongenial

Appropriate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right

    "archaeologists wrongfully appropriated artifacts excavated at ancient sites for their museums"

    similar: arrogate, commandeer, convert, expropriate, pirate, preempt, press, seize, take over, usurp
    related: annex, attach, claim, confiscate, impound, repossess, sequester, assume, collar, grab, grasp, snatch, steal, wrench, wrest, despoil, loot, pillage, encroach, infringe, invade, occupy, preoccupy, trespass, embezzle, misapply, misappropriate, misuse, peculate

  2. to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep

    "you can't just appropriate somebody's term paper and put your name on it!"

    similar: boost (slang), filch, heist, hook, lift, misappropriate, nick (British slang), nip, pilfer, pinch, pocket, purloin, rip off, snitch, steal, swipe, thieve, make away with, make off with, run off with, walk off with
    related: burglarize, knock over, rob, loot, pillage, plunder, sack, carjack, hijack, pick, rifle, poach, rustle, shoplift, collar, grab, grasp, nail, seize, snatch, take, mooch, sponge, abduct, kidnap, shanghai, spirit
    near: buy, purchase, bestow, contribute, donate, give, hand over, present

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Appropriate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Appropriate:

Slang: boost
British slang: nick
applicable, apt, becoming, befitting, felicitous, fit, fitted, fitting, good, happy, meet, pretty, proper, right, suitable, in order, arrogate, commandeer, convert, expropriate, pirate, preempt, press, seize, take over, usurp, filch, heist, hook, lift, misappropriate, nip, pilfer, pinch, pocket, purloin, rip off, snitch, steal, swipe

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Appropriate

Words with the opposite meaning of Appropriate:

improper, inapplicable, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt, incongruous, indecent, infelicitous, malapropos, misbecoming, unapt, unbecoming, unbeseeming, unfit, unfitting, unhappy, unmeet, unseemly, unsuitable, wrong

Related Words for Appropriate

condign, deserved, just, justified, needed, required, requisite, able, capable, competent, cut out, qualified, trained, pitch-perfect, acceptable, adequate, decent, kosher, satisfactory, serviceable, tolerable, correct, decorous, respectable, seemly, balanced, companionate, congruous, consonant, harmonious

Near Antonyms of Appropriate

incapable, incompetent, inept, inexpert, unqualified, unskilled, unskillful, untrained, inadequate, intolerable, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, graceless, incorrect, indecorous, incompatible, uncongenial, buy, purchase, bestow, contribute, donate, give, hand over, present

Word Forms of Appropriate

Inflections: appropriated, appropriating

Derived words: appropriately (adverb), appropriateness (noun), appropriable (adjective), appropriator (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Appropriate

Middle English, from Late Latin appropriatus, past participle of appropriare, from Latin ad- + proprius own

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Appropriate

Frequently Asked Questions about Appropriate

What does "Appropriate" mean?

"Appropriate" means especially suitable or compatible, fitting. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: especially suitable or compatible, fitting. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Appropriate"?

Other words for "Appropriate" include applicable, apt, becoming, befitting, felicitous, fit, fitted and fitting. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Appropriate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Appropriate"?

There are 125 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Appropriate". Common alternatives include applicable, apt, becoming, befitting, felicitous, fit, fitted, fitting, good and happy.

What is the opposite of "Appropriate"?

Antonyms of "Appropriate" include improper, inapplicable, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt, incongruous, indecent and infelicitous. Near antonyms include incapable, incompetent, inept and inexpert.

How do you use "Appropriate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Appropriate" in a sentence: "I don't think jeans and a T-shirt are appropriate attire for a wedding"; "archaeologists wrongfully appropriated artifacts excavated at ancient sites for their museums"; "you can't just appropriate somebody's term paper and put your name on it!".

Is "Appropriate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Appropriate" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Appropriate" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Appropriate" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Appropriate"?

"Appropriate" is pronounced /ə-ˈprō-prē-ət/ as an adjective and /ə-ˈprō-prē-ˌāt/ as a verb and divided into syllables as ap·pro·pri·ate.