apropos

1 of 3

adjective

ap·​ro·​pos ˌa-prə-ˈpō 

ˈa-prə-ˌpō

: being both relevant and opportune

apropos comments

A particularly apropos poem was read at the ceremony.

The breezy wrap dress was apropos for a summer wedding.

—Erica Gonzales

apropos

2 of 3

preposition

: with regard to (something) : apropos of

Apropos the proposed changes, I think more information is needed.

apropos

3 of 3

adverb

1

: at an opportune time : seasonably

Your letter arrived apropos.

2

: by way of interjection or further comment : with regard to the present topic

I went up to New York last weekend; apropos, have you seen your New York cousins lately?

Did you know?

Apropos wears its ancestry like a badge—or a beret. From the French phrase à propos, meaning “to the purpose,” the word’s emphasis lands on its last syllable, which ends in a silent “s”: \ap-ruh-POH. Apropos typically functions as an adjective describing what is suitable or appropriate (“an apropos comment”), or as a preposition (with or without of) meaning “with regard to,” as in “apropos (of) the decision, implementation will take some time.” The phrase “apropos of nothing” suggests that something does not relate to a specified topic.

Synonyms of apropos

Adjective

• relevant
• applicable

Preposition

• concerning
• regarding
• about
• toward
• on

Adverb

• by the way
• in passing
• incidentally
• by the by

Choose the Right Synonym for apropos

relevant, germane, material, pertinent, apposite, applicable, apropos mean relating to or bearing upon the matter in hand.

relevant implies a traceable, significant, logical connection.

found material relevant to her case

germane may additionally imply a fitness for or appropriateness to the situation or occasion.

a point not germane to the discussion

material implies so close a relationship that it cannot be dispensed with without serious alteration of the case.

facts material to the investigation

pertinent stresses a clear and decisive relevance.

a pertinent observation

apposite suggests a felicitous relevance.

add an apposite quotation to the definition

applicable suggests the fitness of bringing a general rule or principle to bear upon a particular case.

the rule is not applicable in this case

apropos suggests being both relevant and opportune.

the quip was apropos

Examples of apropos in a Sentence

Adjective

This short yet spacious and powerful book … reminds us of the careful and apropos writing of J. M. Coetzee, W. G. Sebald and Uwe Timm. —Thomas McGuane, New York Times Book Review, 24 June 2007

The late Kenneth Koch's description of Ashbery as "lazy and quick" remains thoroughly apropos; these 61 page-or-two poems can seem brilliantly tossed off, much like those in his 2000 collection, Your Name Here. The title is appropriate too: Chinese Whispers is the British name for the game of Telephone, where children (or adults) gather in a circle and whisper a "secret" word or phrase into the ear next to them. —Publishers Weekly, 19 Aug. 2002

The ceremony concluded with the reading of an apropos poem.

The comment, though unexpected, was apropos.

Adverb

I went up to New York last weekend; apropos, have you seen your New York cousins lately?

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Given the night’s focus on Hollywood’s long love affair with fashion, Sunday’s tribute to Keaton—a style icon nonpareil in her own right—couldn’t have felt more apropos. —Vogue, 27 Oct. 2025

All of them are exemplary for different reasons, but this fall Cellarius feels apropos. —Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2025

Adverb

And was Ozzy Osbourne showing up posthumously to give us/the (confused) kids one last scare rather apropos? —Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 12 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Preposition, and Adverb

French à propos, literally, to the purpose

First Known Use

Adjective

1691, in the meaning defined above

Preposition

1879, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing apropos

• apropos of
• apropos of nothing

Rhymes for apropos

• afterglow
• akimbo
• albino
• aliquot
• allegro
• amigo
• audio
• bungalow
• calico
• calypso
• cameo
• ceo

Kids Definition

apropos

1 of 2 adverb

ap·​ro·​pos ˌap-rə-ˈpō 

ˈap-rə-ˌpō

: at the right time

apropos

2 of 2 adjective

: being to the point : pertinent