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suitable or fitting for a particular purpose, person, occasion, etc.:
an appropriate example; an appropriate dress.
belonging to or peculiar to a person; proper:
Each played his appropriate part.
to set apart, authorize, or legislate for some specific purpose or use:
The legislature appropriated funds for the university.
to take to or for oneself; take possession of.
to take without permission or consent; seize; expropriate:
He appropriated the trust funds for himself.
to steal, especially to commit petty theft.
Contemporary Examples

In addition, what better way to negotiate than to have revelations in your pocket, ready to be pulled out at the appropriate time?
Playing Into His Hands Michael Adler September 28, 2009

It was an appropriate metaphor; it was time for us to leave.
Uncovering Jamaica’s Jewish Past Debra A. Klein November 30, 2013

As expected, they reported that we were in full compliance and all our expenditures were appropriate.
Exclusive: ‘Pro-Troop’ Charity Pays Off Tea Party Cronies Instead Kim Barker August 4, 2014

This was appropriate because just like her jumbo soda, her twenty minute speech was filled with empty calories.
Sarah Palin’s Big Gulp of a Speech Ben Jacobs March 15, 2013

“I believe that the death penalty is appropriate in certain circumstances,” Obama said.
Nidal Hasan Deserves the Death Sentence the Fort Hood Jury Imposed Michael Daly August 27, 2013

Historical Examples

The term Babi is not appropriate to the religion of Baha nor to his followers.
Bahaism and Its Claims Samuel Graham Wilson

The dining-hall was decorated for the occasion with appropriate portraits.
Punchinello, Vol. 1, No. 6, May 7, 1870 Various

Each locality has its own most appropriate kinds, and he who is to plant, can best make the selections most fitted to his use.
Rural Architecture Lewis Falley Allen

But he did not have the work acted; it was sung in costume with a background of appropriate scenery.
Handel Edward J. Dent

The most noteworthy feature of the basin has received the appropriate name Hurricane.
The Yellowstone National Park Hiram Martin Chittenden

adjective (əˈprəʊprɪɪt)
right or suitable; fitting
(rare) particular; own: they had their appropriate methods
verb (transitive) (əˈprəʊprɪˌeɪt)
to take for one’s own use, esp illegally or without permission
to put aside (funds, etc) for a particular purpose or person
v.

early 15c., “take possession of,” from Late Latin appropriatus, past participle of appropriare, adpropriare (c.450) “to make one’s own,” from Latin ad- “to” (see ad-) + propriare “take as one’s own,” from proprius “one’s own” (see proper). Related: Appropriated; appropriating.
adj.

“specially suitable, proper,” early 15c., from Latin appropriatus, past participle of appropriare (see appropriate (v.)). Related: Appropriately; appropriateness.

verb

liberate (WWI Army)