appropriate
gb/əpɹˈoʊpɹiɪt/ us/əpɹˈoʊpɹiɪt/
B1
English
~ 1000
megfelelő, helyénvaló, eltulajdonít, elsikkaszt, kisajátít, elkülönít, előirányoz
B1
1
megfelelő
A2
helyénvaló
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] is appropriate for [situation]
It’s not appropriate to wear jeans to a formal wedding.
Nem helyénvaló farmert viselni egy elegáns esküvőn.
The teacher found his comment appropriate for the discussion.
A tanár úgy találta, hogy a megjegyzése illett a beszélgetéshez.
Please choose an appropriate time to call me.
This movie is not appropriate for young children.
Learner examples
It is not appropriate to shout in a library.
Nem helyénvaló kiabálni a könyvtárban.
This dress is appropriate for the party.
Ez a ruha megfelelő a partira.
That joke is not appropriate at work.
It is appropriate to say thank you.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'appropriate' with 'approximate' because they look similar but have unrelated meanings.
Meaning
suitable or proper
Collocations
appropriate behavior
|appropriate clothing
|appropriate time
|appropriate response
Synonyms
suitable (Very close in meaning; often interchangeable, but 'suitable' can be slightly more neutral.)
|
proper (Similar meaning, but can sound more formal or moralistic.)
Antonyms
inappropriate (Direct opposite; means not suitable or proper.)
|
unsuitable (Means not right for the situation, especially in practical terms.)
Themes
communication
|daily life
|manners
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Right or good for a certain situation.
Suitable or proper in the circumstances.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
to appropriate [something]
The dictator appropriated the land from local farmers.
A diktátor jogtalanul kisajátította a helyi gazdák földjeit.
He was accused of appropriating company funds for personal use.
Azzal vádolták, hogy a cég pénzét személyes célokra sikkasztotta el.
Some artists have been criticized for appropriating cultural symbols.
Learner examples
The king appropriated the land from the people.
A király jogtalanul kisajátította az emberek földjét.
She appropriated money from the office fund.
Pénzt sikkasztott el az irodai kasszából.
They appropriated ideas from another company.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with 'allocate' (which can also use 'appropriate' in formal government contexts), but here it means taking without right.
Meaning
take without permission
Collocations
appropriate funds
|appropriate resources
|appropriate land
Synonyms
seize (Implies taking by force or authority; can be more physical.)
|
confiscate (Taking something away officially, often by authority.)
Antonyms
return (To give something back to its owner, the opposite of taking it.)
|
relinquish (To give up possession or control voluntarily.)
Themes
law
|politics
|ethics
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To take something and use it as your own without asking or having the right.
To take something for one's own use, typically without permission or legal right.
VERB
B2
FORMAL
3
elkülönít
B2
előirányoz
C1
Usage pattern:
to appropriate [amount] for [purpose]
Congress appropriated $5 million for disaster relief.
A kongresszus 5 millió dollárt különített el katasztrófasegélyre.
The committee appropriated funds to improve local infrastructure.
A bizottság forrásokat különített el a helyi infrastruktúra fejlesztésére.
The city council appropriated money for the new park.
Learner examples
The school appropriated money for new books.
Az iskola pénzt különített el új könyvekre.
The government appropriated funds for the new road.
A kormány forrásokat különített el az új út megépítésére.
They appropriated money to build a hospital.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'take without permission', which is a different sense of the same verb.
Meaning
allocate for a purpose
Collocations
appropriate funds for education
|appropriate budget for research
Synonyms
allocate (Very close in meaning; more common in everyday use.)
|
earmark (Informal or figurative way of saying setting aside resources for a purpose.)
Antonyms
withhold (To refuse to give or allocate resources.)
|
divert (To take resources away from their intended purpose.)
Themes
finance
|government
|business
Definition
To decide to use money or things for a special purpose.
To set aside money or resources for a particular use, especially by an official decision.
Grammar
Dictionary form
appropriate
IPA
GB/əpɹˈoʊpɹiɪt/
US/əpɹˈoʊpɹiɪt/
Syllables & stress
ap - pro - pri - ate (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pro)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: appropriate
Verb
- Base: appropriate
- 3rd Person Singular: appropriates
- Present Participle: appropriating
- Past: appropriated
Word family
Forms
appropriates
verb
appropriating
verb
appropriated
verb
Core family
appropriately
adverb B2
Related words
appropriateness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
inappropriate
adjective B2
inappropriately
adverb
Advanced or less common
inappropriateness
noun
appropriation
noun C1
Expressions
appropriate technology
1/əpɹˈoʊpɹiɪt tɛknˈɑləd͡ʒi/
fixed phrase
technical
technology suited to local needs
Technology that is good for the place and people using it, often cheap and easy to keep working.
Examples
- The NGO promotes appropriate technology for rural farming communities.
- Windmills are an example of appropriate technology in this region.
culturally appropriate
1/kˈʌlt͡ʃɚəli əpɹˈoʊpɹiɪt/
fixed phrase
suitable in cultural context
Right or okay in a certain culture’s customs and rules.
Examples
- It’s important to wear culturally appropriate clothing when visiting holy sites.
- The film sparked debate about what is culturally appropriate humor.
culturally appropriate
1/kˈʌlt͡ʃɚəli əpɹˈoʊpɹiɪt/
fixed phrase
suitable for a culture
OK in a culture; not rude or offensive
Examples
- They adjusted the ad to make it culturally appropriate for the local audience.
- Teachers checked that the examples were culturally appropriate for the class.
Learner examples
- This clothing is culturally appropriate here.
socially appropriate
1/sˈoʊʃəli əpɹˈoʊpɹiɪt/
fixed phrase
acceptable in social situations
Good or right according to what people think is polite or okay in society.
Examples
- Her speech was socially appropriate for the formal dinner.
- It’s not socially appropriate to interrupt someone while they're speaking.