appropriated

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'appropriated' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something has been allotted or assigned to a certain person or group, or that something has been taken or assumed for oneself without permission. Example: The office had appropriated the meeting room for an internal meeting, so the team had to find another space to hold their presentation.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Also, the supporters of the reforms have appropriated "Obamacare" – originally intended as a derisive label by its opponents – and are now using it with enthusiasm.

The Guardian

And though Congress approved the Green Jobs Act, no money for job training has been appropriated.

The Economist

While territory may be defensively occupied, it cannot be unilaterally appropriated as the country's own sovereign territory.

The Guardian - Opinion

Politicians and hashtags don't always make an easy mix, especially when a hashtag is appropriated for political aims.

The Guardian

Critics – often on the left – have argued that both "coming to terms with the Nazi past" and "overcoming the legacies of the GDR" might have been failures after all: in the case of the former, the critics claim that Germans have essentially appropriated the victims of the Holocaust in order to feel good about their own efforts in remembrance.

The Guardian - Opinion

(The federal money would go to building a Kentucky dam, although it would still have be appropriated before it being disbursed. In the end McConnell's fellow Kentucky senator, Lamar Alexander, stepped up and claimed responsibility-slash-credit for the dam deal).

The Guardian

Each DNA confirmation that a missing grandchild had been found and reunited with their biological family, usually accompanied by legal action against the "mother and father" who had appropriated them, has been greeted with joy across the political spectrum.

The Guardian

Instead it is a robust shell to be appropriated and modified over time – or, as Facebookers would have it, "hacked".

The Guardian - Arts

Racists want to appropriate the English flag of St George, as they appropriated the Union flag for a time, decades ago.

The Economist

More wire is rolled out, more poison set down, scrub and trees burned and water sources appropriated.

The Economist

Peasants, it said, should have the right to negotiate their own price for land appropriated from them.Isolated groups of peasants elsewhere followed suit, including some in Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Sichuan and Tianjin.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "appropriated" in the context of funds or resources, ensure that you specify the intended purpose or recipient to provide clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "appropriate" when you mean "appropriated." "Appropriate" means suitable or fitting, while "appropriated" means allocated or taken.

Linguistic Context

The word "appropriated" functions primarily as a verb in the past participle form. It is commonly used to describe the action of allocating resources for a specific purpose or taking something for one's own use, often without permission. Ludwig AI indicates that this usage is correct and frequent.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "appropriated" is a versatile verb form primarily used to describe the act of allocating resources or taking something, often without permission. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, including news, business, and science. While its formality is generally neutral, it's important to distinguish it from "appropriate" and be mindful of the specific nuance you wish to convey, considering alternatives like "allocated" or "seized" for more precise meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allocated

Focuses on the formal distribution of resources for a specific purpose; less about taking and more about giving.

seized

Emphasizes the forceful taking of something, often against someone's will.

confiscated

Implies taking something as a penalty or due to legal reasons.

assumed

Highlights taking on a role or responsibility, rather than a physical object.

usurped

Indicates taking power or position illegally or by force.

reserved

Denotes setting something aside for a particular person or purpose.

requisitioned

Implies formally demanding or taking something for official use.

diverted

Suggests changing the course or use of something to a different purpose.

commanded

Emphasizes control and authority in the act of taking or ordering something.

preempted

Indicates taking action to prevent someone else from doing something.

FAQs

How to use "appropriated" in a sentence?

Use "appropriated" to indicate that something has been officially allocated for a specific purpose, or that someone has taken something for their own use. For example, "The funds were appropriated for the new project", or "He appropriated the idea without giving credit".

What can I say instead of "appropriated"?

You can use alternatives like "allocated", "seized", or "reserved" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "appropriated" or "appropriate"?

"Appropriated" is the past participle of "appropriate", meaning to take or allocate something. "Appropriate" means suitable or fitting. The correct choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "appropriated" and "expropriated"?

"Appropriated" can mean both allocating for a specific purpose or taking something for oneself. "Expropriated" specifically refers to the act of a government taking private property for public use, often without compensation.