appropriate

Use the word "appropriate" when something fits a situation or when a person’s behavior is okay.

Q: Are his clothes appropriate for working in an office? A: Yes, a suit is very appropriate. He’s dressed appropriately for his job.
Q: Are his clothes appropriate for working in an office? A: No, they aren’t. He’s dressed inappropriately for working in an office. His clothes are appropriate for riding on a skateboard.

• Walter said something that was inappropriate during class. (Use the prefix "in" to make this adjective negative.)
• The punishment the teacher gave him was appropriate.
• One hour was an appropriate amount of time to finish the test.
• The manager spoke to his employees in a manner that was not appropriate, so they walked off the job.
• Two thousand dollars was an appropriate offer for Bob’s car. It’s not worth very much.

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This page was first published on July 19, 2012. It was updated on February 28, 2016.