Word
appropriate
Phoneticsap·pro·pri·ate, stress on the second syllable
/əˈpɹoʊpɹiˌeɪt/
Definitions
01suitable or right
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. right or suitable for a particular situation, person, or use.
adj. suitable or proper in the circumstances; socially or functionally correct.
Español:apropiado
“It is important to wear appropriate clothes when you go for a job interview.”
“The manager decided that a formal written warning was the most appropriate response to the repeated safety violations.”
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'for' or 'to'.
Antonyms
02to take without permission
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to take something for your own use, usually without the owner's permission.
v. to take something for one's own use, typically without the owner's permission or legal right.
“The company was accused of trying to appropriate land that belonged to the local people.”
“The rebels were quick to appropriate the abandoned military vehicles to bolster their own transport capabilities.”
Usage
This is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.
Synonyms
03to set money aside
C1 · Advanced Law Academic · Formal
v. to officially decide that an amount of money will be used for a specific purpose.
v. to devote money or assets to a special purpose, often through a formal legislative or corporate process.
“The government will appropriate five million dollars for the new hospital wing.”
“The committee voted to appropriate additional funds for the urban renewal project after the initial budget proved insufficient.”
Usage
Commonly used in government, legal, and accounting contexts.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “appropriate” in context.
Adjective
01. appropriate action
“The manager will take appropriate action if the rules are not followed.”
adj + noun
02. appropriate amount
“Make sure you add the appropriate amount of water to the mixture.”
adj + noun
03. appropriate behaviour
“The school has strict guidelines regarding appropriate behaviour in the classroom.”
adj + noun
04. appropriate condition
“The equipment must be kept in an appropriate condition for safety reasons.”
adj + noun
05. appropriate context
“It is important to understand these historical events in their appropriate context.”
adj + noun
06. appropriate form
“Please submit your application using the appropriate form provided on our website.”
adj + noun
07. appropriate goal
“Setting an appropriate goal is the first step toward achieving success.”
adj + noun
08. appropriate intervention
“Early and appropriate intervention can significantly improve the patient's recovery.”
adj + noun
09. appropriate level
“Students are placed in classes according to their appropriate level of English.”
adj + noun
10. appropriate manner
“Please ensure that you conduct yourself in an appropriate manner during the ceremony.”
adj + noun
11. appropriate material
“The teacher selected appropriate material for the age group.”
adj + noun
12. appropriate measure
“The government introduced an appropriate measure to curb inflation.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“WHO wants to break this chain by bringing healthcare facilities closer to communities, better informing the public and transport providers, and promptly referring suspected cases to appropriate centres.” “It seems an appropriate setting for an author who is on a mission to bring fairytales to modern readers.” “Why did the Navy not communicate these problems early and often to families and the appropriate government officials?” it asked.” Etymology
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).
From Middle English appropriat (“appropriated”), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/appropriate
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0