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Appropriate

To make suitable; to suit.

📖 Definitions of "Appropriate"

verb
  1. 1

    To make suitable; to suit.

  2. 2

    To take to oneself; to claim or use, especially as by an exclusive right.

    "Let no man appropriate the use of a common benefit."

  3. 3

    To set apart for, or assign to, a particular person or use, especially in exclusion of all others; with to or for.

    "A spot of ground is appropriated for a garden."

  4. 4

    To annex (for example a benefice, to a spiritual corporation, as its property).

adjective
  1. 1

    Suitable or fit; proper.

    "The headmaster wondered what an appropriate measure would be to make the pupil behave better."

  2. 2

    Suitable to the social situation or to social respect or social discreetness; socially correct; socially discreet; well-mannered; proper.

    "I don't think it was appropriate for the cashier to tell me out loud in front of all those people at the check-out that my hair-piece looked like it was falling out of place."

  3. 3

    Set apart for a particular use or person; reserved.

🔄 Synonyms of "Appropriate"

24 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

WordDefinition
pertinentnounImportant with regard to (a subject or matter); pertaining; relevant.
aproposnounOf an appropriate or pertinent nature.
seizeverb(transitive) To deliberately take hold of; to grab or capture.
propernounSuitable.
rightnounComplying with justice, correctness, or reason; correct, just, true. See also the interjection senses below.
congruent(mathematics) Having a difference divisible by a modulus.
suitableHaving sufficient or the required properties for a certain purpose or task; appropriate to a certain occasion.
fitverbSuitable; proper
harmoniousMelodious; in harmony.
advantageousBeing of advantage, beneficial.
congruousHarmonious.
allowverb(transitive, catenative) To permit, to give permission to.
appositenounStrikingly appropriate or relevant; well suited to the circumstance or in relation to something.
expedientnounSuitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended.
patnounTo (gently) tap the flat of one's hand on a person or thing.
take oververbTo assume control of something, such as a business or enterprise, and sometimes by force.
duenounOwed or owing.
earmarkverb(figurative) (finance) An act of designating certain funds to be used for a specific purpose; specifically (US, politics), a designation by the Congress that certain federal funds be appropriated for a specific project.
befittingAppropriate, becoming.
suited(usually with to, for or an adverb) Suitable.
set asideverb(transitive) To separate and reserve something for a specific purpose.
called forappropriate or even needed in the circumstances
aptnounSuitable; appropriate; fit or fitted; suited.
reservenoun(transitive, ditransitive) To book in advance; to make a reservation for.

↔️ Antonyms of "Appropriate"

Words with the opposite meaning.

WordDefinition
inappropriateNot appropriate; not suitable for the situation, time, or place.

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Appropriate"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

WordDefinition
properSuitable.
aptSuitable; appropriate; fit or fitted; suited.
fitSuitable; proper
suitableHaving sufficient or the required properties for a certain purpose or task; appropriate to a certain occasion.
appositeStrikingly appropriate or relevant; well suited to the circumstance or in relation to something.
befittingAppropriate, becoming.
aproposOf an appropriate or pertinent nature.
pertinentImportant with regard to (a subject or matter); pertaining; relevant.
expedientnounSuitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended.
advantageousBeing of advantage, beneficial.
allowverb(transitive, catenative) To permit, to give permission to.
congruousHarmonious.
congruent(mathematics) Having a difference divisible by a modulus.
in ordernounIn a sequence.
rightnounComplying with justice, correctness, or reason; correct, just, true. See also the interjection senses below.
reservenoun(transitive, ditransitive) To book in advance; to make a reservation for.
dueOwed or owing.
set asideverb(transitive) To separate and reserve something for a specific purpose.
seizeverb(transitive) To deliberately take hold of; to grab or capture.
take oververbTo assume control of something, such as a business or enterprise, and sometimes by force.

Words Strongly Associated with "Appropriate"

These words statistically appear in the same text as "appropriate" (Google Books Ngrams).

📝 Common Phrases with "Appropriate"

Words that come before

  • theappropriate
  • anappropriate
  • isappropriate
  • moreappropriate
  • beappropriate
  • mostappropriate
  • andappropriate
  • ofappropriate
  • toappropriate
  • withappropriate
  • areappropriate
  • asappropriate
  • notappropriate
  • byappropriate

Words that come after

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