proportionate

1 of 2

adjective

pro·​por·​tion·​ate prə-ˈpȯr-sh(ə-)nət 

: proportional sense 1

proportionately adverb

proportionate

2 of 2

verb

pro·​por·​tion·​ate prə-ˈpȯr-shə-ˌnāt 

proportionated; proportionating

transitive verb

: to make proportionate : proportion

Synonyms of proportionate

Adjective

• proportional
• commensurate
• comparable

Examples of proportionate in a Sentence

Adjective

Each investor will receive a proportionate share of the profits.

expect financial returns proportionate to your efforts

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Thus enabling the the suppliers to follow a pathway proportionate to part criticality. — Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 7 July 2026

The issue is whether appropriate and proportionate protective security is being provided throughout the entirety of the visit. — Max Foster, CNN Money, 4 July 2026

Verb

France's two-round voting system is complex and not proportionate to the nationwide support for a party. — Sylvie Corbet, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 June 2022

The two-round voting system is complex and not proportionate to the nationwide support for a party. — Bradford Betz, Fox News, 12 June 2022

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English proporcionate, borrowed from Medieval Latin prōportiōnātus, past participle of prōportiōnāre "to compose according to proportions, make proportional" — more at proportion entry 2

Verb

in part derivative of proportionate entry 1, in part borrowed from Medieval Latin prōportiōnātus, past participle of prōportiōnāre "to compose according to proportions, make proportional" — more at proportion entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1570, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for proportionate

• extortionate
• disproportionate

Kids Definition

proportionate

adjective

pro·​por·​tion·​ate

p(r)ə-ˈpōr-sh(ə-)nət, 

-ˈpȯr-

: proportional sense 1

proportionately adverb