Definition of appropriate
: especially suitable or compatible : fitting an appropriate response remarks appropriate to the occasion
appropriately
adverbappropriateness
nounFrom the M-W Editors
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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Please discuss age appropriate screening with your child’s doctor.
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Sprinkle in a bit of seasonally-appropriate sparkle to a fall wedding with a dark golden hue.
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Alternately, if the council decides to call a special election, members will have to submit the appropriate resolutions to the county by the July 14 deadline, the clerk said.
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Co-driver Cameron goads us to flatten the accelerator while dialing in the appropriate countersteer to hold an arc at the outer edge of the packed 1000-foot-diameter circle.
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Other than his bar mitzvah, nothing about the 42-year-old’s background would hint at his interest in Orthodox-appropriate cooking.
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Chris Poynter, communications director for Mayor Greg Fischer, said the city currently has an application for a $2 million state grant to acquire land and appropriate design funds for the loop.
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Jurors select those whose works are appropriate, and judges choose 12 of them for top awards.
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Print or email lists and other actions To print or email a task list click the Actions button and select the appropriate option.
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
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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Poynter acknowledged that Bochetto had recently drawn down $50,000 that the city had appropriated specifically for building repairs at the gift shop.
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After the culture wars of Western politics went online and were appropriated by Millennials, something strange happened.
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Occupational therapy, which guides children to appropriate behaviors by managing these sensory issues, is essential, Hoff said.
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The House plan would appropriate money for services that have been starved during the budget stalemate including immigrant assistance, funeral and burial services for the poor and breast and cervical cancer screenings.
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People were quick to call out the designs for appropriating black culture and disrespecting the legacies of the late Tupac and Biggie.
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But the funding wasn’t automatic; legislators retained the authority to appropriate that funding.
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After the 2012 plebiscite, Congress appropriated $2.5 million for Puerto Rican voter education and for administering a plebiscite that would clarify the 2012 results.
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To date, the state has appropriated just a fraction of the amount necessary to cover these costs, even as local and state elections loom.
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
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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