appropriate
uh-PROH-pree-ayt
Appropriate (adj) means Suitable or correct for a particular situation. Example: “Jeans aren't appropriate for a job interview.”
adj
1
Suitable or correct for a particular situation.
"Jeans aren't appropriate for a job interview."
"The teacher gave age-appropriate feedback to each student."
"It is not appropriate to answer your phone during a funeral."
verb
1
To take something for one's own use, often without permission.
"The government appropriated the land to build a new road."
"The manager was accused of appropriating funds that belonged to the sports club."
"Someone had appropriated my umbrella from the stand and left theirs behind."
How to use appropriate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAs an adjective: fitting or suitable for the situation. As a verb (more formal/legal): to take something for a particular use.
Common mistake
The verb and adjective are pronounced differently: the adjective ends softer ("-it"), the verb ends with a harder "-ate" sound.
Common pairings
appropriate behaviour
appropriate for
appropriate funds
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- appropriates
- Past tense
- appropriated
- Comparative
- more appropriate
- Superlative
- most appropriate
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Jeans aren't _____ for a job interview.
Etymology
From Latin appropriare, "to make one's own," from proprius, "one's own, private" — the same root as property and proper.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for appropriate
See all rhymes for appropriate →Frequently asked questions
What does “appropriate” mean?
The word “appropriate” means suitable or correct for a particular situation. In plain terms, as an adjective: fitting or suitable for the situation. As a verb (more formal/legal): to take something for a particular use.
How do you pronounce “appropriate”?
“Appropriate” is pronounced uh-PROH-pree-ayt (/əˈpɹoʊ.pɹi.eɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “appropriate” in a sentence?
Here is “appropriate” used in a sentence: “Jeans aren't appropriate for a job interview.”
What is another word for “appropriate”?
Words with a similar meaning to “appropriate” include impropriate, steal, earmark, felicitous, fitting and suitable.
What is the opposite of “appropriate”?
The opposite of “appropriate” — its antonyms — are inappropriate and unhappy.
What part of speech is “appropriate”?
Depending on how it is used, “appropriate” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “appropriate” come from?
The word “appropriate” comes from Latin. From Latin appropriare, "to make one's own," from proprius, "one's own, private" — the same root as property and proper.
Is “appropriate” a common word?
“Appropriate” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between appropriate (adjective) and appropriate (verb)?
The two are spelled the same but stressed differently. The adjective (uh-PROH-pree-it) means suitable or fitting for a situation, as in appropriate clothing. The verb (uh-PROH-pree-ate) means to take something for your own use, often without permission, as in to appropriate funds or land.
Is appropriate a formal word?
It is fairly formal and neutral. In casual speech people often say suitable, right, or fitting instead. Appropriate suits professional, academic, and official contexts — dress codes, behaviour policies, and reports — where it carries a sense of judged correctness for the specific circumstances at hand.
What is the opposite of appropriate?
The direct opposite is inappropriate, meaning unsuitable or out of place for the situation. Other antonyms include unsuitable, improper, and unfitting. Because appropriate always depends on context, something can be appropriate in one setting and inappropriate in another, such as casual clothing at a formal event.
What is an example of appropriate?
Appropriate describes something matched to its situation. Wearing a suit to a job interview is appropriate, and comforting words at a funeral are an appropriate response. It often appears in phrases like appropriate behaviour, appropriate action, or where appropriate, all signalling that something fits the circumstances.
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