English · Word Candidate

appropriate

/əˈpɹəʊ.pɹi.eɪt/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: appropriates · appropriating · appropriated

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

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

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

đưa vào sở hữu của mình

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Verb

Examples

Let no man appropriate the use of a common benefit.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

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

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

dành riêng cho một người hoặc mục đích cụ thể

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Verb

Examples

A spot of ground is appropriated for a garden.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Suitable or fit; proper; felicitous.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

phù hợp, thích hợp

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Adjective

Examples

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

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

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

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

phù hợp với tình huống xã hội hoặc sự tôn trọng

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Adjective

Examples

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

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “appropriate” mean?

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

Is “appropriate” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.