appropriate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb give or assign a resource to a particular person or cause
    set aside; earmark; allow; reserve.
    • I will earmark this money for your research
    • She sets aside time for meditation every day
  2. verb take possession of by force, as after an invasion
    capture; conquer; seize.
    • the invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitants
    • The army seized the town
    • The militia captured the castle
  3. adjective suitable for a particular person or place or condition etc
    • a book not appropriate for children
    • a funeral conducted the appropriate solemnity
    • it seems that an apology is appropriate

WordNet

Ap*pro"pri*ate adjective
Etymology
L. appropriatus, p. p. of appropriare; ad + propriare to appropriate, fr. proprius one's own, proper. See Proper.
Definitions
  1. Set apart for a particular use or person. Hence: Belonging peculiarly; peculiar; suitable; fit; proper.
    In its strict and appropriate meaning. Porteus.
    Appropriate acts of divine worship. Stillingfleet.
    It is not at all times easy to find words appropriate to express our ideas. Locke.
Ap*pro"pri*ate transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Appropriated present participle & verbal noun Appropriating
Definitions
  1. To take to one's self in exclusion of others; to claim or use as by an exclusive right; as, let no man appropriate the use of a common benefit.
  2. To set apart for, or assign to, a particular person or use, in exclusion of all others; -- with to or for; as, a spot of ground is appropriated for a garden; to appropriate money for the increase of the navy.
  3. To make suitable; to suit. Archaic Paley.
  4. (Eng. Eccl. Law) To annex, as a benefice, to a spiritual corporation, as its property. Blackstone.
Ap*pro"pri*ate noun
Definitions
  1. A property; attribute. Obs.

Webster 1913