adjective
apposite
AP-uh-zit
Apposite (adjective) means Very suitable to the particular situation or point being made; strikingly to the point. Example: “She closed the eulogy with an apposite line from Auden.”
adjective
1
Very suitable to the particular situation or point being made; strikingly to the point.
"She closed the eulogy with an apposite line from Auden."
"His question was brief and unusually apposite."
How to use apposite
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishExactly right for the moment or the point being made.
When to use it
Formal and literary. It appears mostly in reviews, essays and speeches; 'apt' or 'fitting' does the same job in ordinary conversation.
Memory tip
Stress the first syllable and keep the vowel short: AP-uh-zit, not uh-POZ-it.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
an apposite quotation
apposite comment
particularly apposite
apposite example
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She closed the eulogy with an _____ line from Auden.
Etymology
From Latin appositus, the past participle of apponere 'to place near', from ad 'to' and ponere 'to put'.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for apposite
See all rhymes for apposite →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between apposite and opposite?
They are unrelated despite looking almost identical. Apposite means well suited to the point at hand, while opposite means facing or entirely contrary. Saying 'an apposite remark' praises it; 'the opposite remark' means the reverse of it.
Is apposite the same as apt?
They overlap closely, but apt can also describe a tendency ('apt to forget') and can describe a person's talent, while apposite only ever means well matched to a specific context. Apposite is also noticeably more formal.
What is the meaning of apposite?
"apposite" (adjective) means very suitable to the particular situation or point being made; strikingly to the point.
What is another word for apposite?
Other words for "apposite" include apt, pertinent, fitting, relevant, germane.
