Definition of appropriate
: especially suitable or compatible : fitting an appropriate response remarks appropriate to the occasion
appropriately
adverbappropriateness
nounRead the Latest from M-W
Examples of appropriate in a Sentence
More than almost anyone writing today, Slater, whose prose is astringent and sensuous by turn, reflects both a genuine feeling for and appreciation of foods appropriate to the season—and a tolerance for kitchen disasters. —Cynthia Zarin, Gourmet, April 2007
Crepuscular means “pertaining to twilight.” It sounds so lovely. I use the word as much as possible, even when it's not appropriate. —Bob Berman, Astronomy, June 2006
While working as one of the exhibition curators, I was surprised to learn that, until the 1920s, ice cream was properly eaten with a fork, a cumbersome technique decried by none other than Florence Howe hall, the granddaughter of Julia Ward Howe, who wrote “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”. But if high society eventually agreed on a more appropriate utensil for eating the frozen-dessert, even the most au courant hostess may have had trouble deciding what kind of device should be used for serving it … —Darra Goldstein, Saveur, June-July 2006
Three days. There was no way on this earth that proper due diligence could be done in such a limited time. For a merger of this magnitude, a week's worth of due diligence would have been more appropriate. —Nina Munk, Vanity Fair, January 2004
The town has appropriated funds to repair the bridge and work should begin this summer.
The economy has been weakened by corrupt officials who have appropriated the country's resources for their own use.
Elements of the design were appropriated from other architects.
The term “bad” has been appropriated by teenagers as a synonym for “good.”
Recent Examples of appropriate from the Web
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All of Dr. Tyma’s conduct here was done in the furtherance of appropriate medical treatment.
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Given all of this, and the utter lack of proven benefits, when my friend asked about it, an eye roll was probably the appropriate response.
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But his order dealt with timing — not whether a recount was appropriate.
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There are compelling reasons why a woman may appear to be a more appropriate heir to political power.
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For this reason, many discussions about the future of governance are focused on the debt, which is appropriate to a degree.
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This is nowhere more appropriate than in Europe, where the Stability and Growth Pact is needed to anchor medium-term expectations.
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The museum offers a number of apps that serve as exhibition guides, including one geared toward younger visitors that uses age-appropriate language.
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That being strong and powerful and outspoken just wasn’t appropriate or attractive for a girl.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'appropriate'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
From its roots, the verb appropriate would mean basically "make one's own"—that is, "take", or sometimes "grab". Each year the President and Congress create a budget and appropriate funds for each item in it, funds which mostly come in the form of taxes from the public. In the House of Representatives, the powerful Appropriations Committee often gets the last word on how much money goes to each program. "Misappropriation of funds", on the other hand, is a nice way of saying "theft". If someone appropriated pieces of your novel, you might take him or her to court; and if you appropriated trade secrets from your former employers, you might be the one sued.
Origin and Etymology of appropriate
see 2appropriate
First Known Use: 15th century
Synonym Discussion of appropriate
Definition of appropriate
appropriated
;appropriating
transitive verb
1 : to take exclusive possession of : annex No one should appropriate a common benefit.
2 : to set apart for or assign to a particular purpose or use appropriate money for a research program
3 : to take or make use of without authority or right natural habitats that have been appropriated for human use
Examples of appropriate in a Sentence
From this source it was appropriated by Wilhelm Ropke in his effort to develop a social and political theory in which the market economy would be reconciled with the local community. —Roger Scruton, National Review, 20 June 2005
Dr. Seuss's mother, also the daughter of German immigrants, was Henrietta Seuss, and when he appropriated the name for his books Dr. Seuss pronounced it in the German manner, “soice,” until he realized that Americans naturally read the name as “soose,” and that the American pronunciation of “Dr. Seuss” evoked a figure advantageous for an author of children's books to be associated with—Mother Goose. —Louis Menand, New Yorker, 23 & 30 Dec. 2002
Wales, in contrast, was officially appropriated into the United Kingdom by Henry VIII's Acts of Union, in 1536 and 1543, before it had developed the apparatus of a modern state. —Pamela Petro, Atlantic, April 1999
Red wine would have been a more appropriate choice with the meal.
The movie is perfectly appropriate to people of all ages.
Recent Examples of appropriate from the Web
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Pepsi was accused of appropriating imagery from the Black Lives Matter movement and trivializing the confrontations between protesters and police.
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House Republicans filed suit against the Obama administration to stop these payments, saying Congress never appropriated money for them, and a federal district judge ruled for the lawmakers in May.
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The Antideficiency Act prohibits the government from spending money for any reason that Congress has not appropriated.
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In some other recent controversies about authors’ identities, the issue was whether the writers had appropriated cultures not their own.
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The supervisors plan to appropriate the $10.7 million for the county’s eastern end Tuesday, according to Candland, meaning the School Board can quickly spend the money instead of waiting for the next fiscal year, which won’t begin until July.
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The state appropriated $760,000 in 2015 for these and related initiatives.
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The attacks gave legitimacy to the other parties to re-appropriate it.
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Pepe the frog, a cartoon character appropriated by the white supremacist movement on social media, appeared on dozens of T-shirts and signs.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'appropriate'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of appropriate
Middle English, from Late Latin appropriatus, past participle of appropriare, from Latin ad- + proprius own
First Known Use: 15th century
APPROPRIATE Defined for English Language Learners
appropriate
playDefinition of appropriate for English Language Learners
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: to get or save (money) for a specific use or purpose
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: to take or use (something) especially in a way that is illegal, unfair, etc.
appropriate
playDefinition of appropriate for English Language Learners
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: right or suited for some purpose or situation
APPROPRIATE Defined for Kids
Definition of appropriate for Students
: especially fitting or suitable The movie is appropriate for small children.
appropriately
adverb We dressed appropriately for the occasion.appropriateness
nounDefinition of appropriate for Students
appropriated
;appropriating
1 : to take possession of especially in an illegal or unfair way
2 : to set apart for a certain purpose or use The school appropriated funds for new books.
Law Dictionary
appropriate
playLegal Definition of appropriate
appropriated
appropriating
1 : to set apart for or assign to a particular recipient, purpose, or use the legislature appropriating funds for the program
2 : to take or make use of without authority or right
Origin and Etymology of appropriate
Late Latin appropriare to take possession of, from ad to, for + proprius one's own
Learn More about appropriate
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See words that rhyme with appropriate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for appropriate Spanish Central: Translation of appropriate Nglish: Translation of appropriate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of appropriate for Arabic speakers
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