to appropriate

USAGE SUMMARY

"to appropriate" is a correct and usable verb in written English.
It means to take exclusive possession of something. For example, "The government appropriated the land for public use."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Allow me to appropriate this tired cliche.

The Guardian

Again thoughts turn reflexively to appropriate wines.

The New York Times

A "yes" is a vote to appropriate the money.

The New York Times

And maybe other people want to appropriate those.

The New York Times

Nor is anyone threatening to appropriate their riches.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hasidim, but he don't believe 'em — to appropriate a joke.

The New Yorker

Still, Mr. Gonzales is entitled to appropriate legal representation.

The New York Times

Distribute blank maps of continents to appropriate groups.

The New York Times

(Most of the remains were turned over to appropriate consulates).

The New York Times

Congress is expected to appropriate about $2 billion this year.

The New York Times

"It all adds up to appropriate policy support".

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to appropriate" when you want to express the formal action of setting something aside for a specific purpose, especially in legal, financial, or official contexts.

Common error

Avoid overusing "to appropriate" when a simpler verb like "to use", "to allocate", or "to assign" would be more direct and clear for your audience. The term is more suited for formal contexts.

Linguistic Context

The infinitive phrase "to appropriate" primarily functions as a verb within a sentence, often indicating the action of allocating resources or taking possession of something for a specific purpose. Examples from Ludwig show its use in formal and legal contexts, such as appropriating funds.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

39%

Formal & Business

22%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the infinitive phrase "to appropriate" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression, particularly in formal contexts such as news, science, and business. Ludwig AI confirms that it denotes the action of allocating resources or taking possession for a specific purpose. When writing, use this phrase to convey a formal setting aside of resources, but be mindful of simpler alternatives like "to allocate" or "to use" for more general contexts. Remember that the phrase's formality makes it less suited for informal writing. "To appropriate" is present primarily in "News & Media", "Science" and "Formal & Business"

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to take possession of

Focuses more on the act of acquiring ownership or control.

to allocate for

Emphasizes the assignment of something for a particular purpose.

to set aside for

Highlights the act of reserving something for a specific use or person.

to earmark for

Suggests specifically designating something for a particular purpose.

to lay claim to

Emphasizes the act of asserting one's right to something.

to take over

Focuses on assuming control or management of something.

to arrogate to oneself

Implies taking something without justification or right.

to commandeer for

Suggests taking something for military or public use, often temporarily.

to sequester for

Emphasizes isolating or setting something apart for a specific purpose.

to assume control of

Highlights the act of gaining control over something.

FAQs

How can I use "to appropriate" in a sentence?

You can use "to appropriate" to describe the act of setting aside resources for a specific purpose, such as "Congress is expected "to appropriate" about $2 billion this year."

What are some alternatives to using "to appropriate"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "to allocate", "to designate", or "to set aside".

When is it appropriate to use "to appropriate" instead of "to allocate"?

"To appropriate" often implies a formal or legal setting where funds or resources are being officially designated, whereas "to allocate" can be used in broader contexts to mean distributing resources.

Is it correct to use "to appropriate" in informal writing?

While grammatically correct, "to appropriate" is generally better suited for formal writing. In informal contexts, simpler alternatives such as "to use" or "to take" are often more appropriate.