I. ap ‧ pro ‧ pri ‧ ate 1 S2 W1 AC /əˈprəʊpri-ət, əˈprəʊpri-ɪt $ əˈproʊ-/ BrE AmE adjective
correct or suitable for a particular time, situation, or purpose OPP inappropriate
appropriate for
clothes appropriate for a job interview
appropriate to
an education system which is more appropriate to the needs of the students
it is appropriate (for somebody) to do something
It would not be appropriate for me to discuss that now.
it is appropriate (that)
It seemed somehow appropriate that we should begin our journey here.
appropriate time/place etc
I didn’t feel that this was an appropriate time to mention the subject of money.
highly/entirely/wholly appropriate
I thought his remark was highly appropriate, given the circumstances.
The timing of the announcement was particularly appropriate.
Where appropriate, I delegate as much work as possible.
Mark box 1 or 2, as appropriate.
I can assure you that appropriate action will be taken.
—appropriately adverb :
The painters met, appropriately enough, in an art gallery (=used to emphasize that something is very appropriate) .
appropriately dressed
—appropriateness noun [uncountable]
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THESAURUS
▪ suitable having the right qualities for a particular purpose or person:
a suitable place for a picnic
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They don’t consider him a suitable husband for their daughter.
▪ right completely suitable in every way:
It’s a nice house, but it isn’t right for us.
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We’ll tell her when the time is right.
▪ appropriate suitable for a particular purpose. Appropriate is more formal than suitable :
She filled out all the appropriate forms.
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It may not be an appropriate time to ask him about it.
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It’s not appropriate to wear a short skirt for an interview.
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the appropriate way to end a business letter
▪ proper the proper tool, piece of equipment, or way of doing something is the one that most people think is most suitable:
You can’t change a wheel without the proper tools.
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the proper procedure for hiring staff
▪ suited to something if someone is suited to something, he or she has the right qualities to do it:
He’d be well suited to the job.
II. ap ‧ pro ‧ pri ‧ ate 2 /əˈprəʊprieɪt $ əˈproʊ-/ BrE AmE verb [transitive] formal
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Late Latin ; Origin: past participle of appropriare , from Latin ad- 'to' + proprius 'own' ]
1 . to take something for yourself when you do not have the right to do this SYN steal :
He is suspected of appropriating government funds.
2 . to take something, especially money, to use for a particular purpose
appropriate something for something
Congress appropriated $5 million for International Women’s Year.
⇨ misappropriate