Appropriated means taken or assigned for a specific use, often without permission, or allocated to a particular purpose or group. It can also describe something that has been set aside or designated for a role or function. The term is commonly used in legal, political, or cultural contexts to indicate intentional, sometimes controversial, use of resources or symbols.
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- Misplacing the primary stress on the first or last syllable; correct by placing stress on the second syllable block: ə-PROH-pri-ated, with clear /proʊ/ and /eɪ/ before the final /tɪd/. - Slurring the /pr/ into /p/ or neglecting the /r/ in rhotic accents; practice isolating /pr/ with a brief /r/ coloring. - Ending elision: in fast speech, the final -ed may be pronounced as /t/ or /d/ or not fully pronounced; ensure you can clearly articulate /tɪd/ in careful speech, then gradually reduce as appropriate.
- US: rhotics are pronounced; emphasize /r/ in /prɪ/ and keep /oʊ/ rounded. Use /əˈproʊ.priˌeɪ.tɪd/ for IPA. - UK: often non-rhotic; /r/ is less pronounced unless before a vowel; ensure /ɔː/ quality in /proʊ/ approximates /prəʊ/. - AU: similar to UK but with vowel qualities shifted; /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ can appear in /proʊ/. Reference IPA values accordingly: US /əˈproʊ.priˌeɪ.tɪd/, UK /əˈprəʊ.priˌeɪ.tɪd/, AU /əˈprɒː.priˌeɪ.tɪd/.
"The company appropriated funds for emergency relief without a formal approval process."
"Some critics argue that the film inappropriately appropriates other cultures for entertainment."
"The university appropriated a portion of its budget to support student mental health initiatives."
"The city council appropriated land for a new community garden in the neighborhood."
Appropriated derives from late Latin appropriatus, past participle of appropriare, meaning to set apart or make one's own. The Latin verb appropriare is formed from ad- (toward, to) + proprius (one's own, private), echoing a sense of making something private or belonging to a person or entity. The English adoption appears by the 16th century, initially in legal and ownership contexts, denoting the act of taking something for oneself or allocating it for a purpose. Over time, the meaning broadened to include the act of designating resources or ideas for a particular use, or adopting elements from one culture into another in a way that may involve consent or appropriation debates. In modern usage, appropriated often carries connotations of authority, control, and sometimes ethical controversy, especially when discussing resources, symbols, or cultural elements being used by groups other than the source community. The word has retained its formal tone in policy and governance discourse, while also appearing in everyday discussions of budgeting, property rights, and cultural critique. First known use in English is attested in the 1500s, with evolving sense from “to take possession of” to “to set apart for a specific use.”
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "appropriated" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "appropriated" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "appropriated"
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Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Break it as ə-PROH-pri-ate-id. The primary stress is on the second syllable: /əˈproʊ.priˌeɪ.tɪd/ in US/UK dictionaries. Start with a schwa, then a clear /proʊ/ for ‘pro,’ followed by /pri/ and the /eɪ/ diphthong, and finish with a light /d/ or /ɪd/ depending on pace. See audio references in major dictionaries or Pronounce for listening guide. Mouth: lips relaxed, high back vowel in /oʊ/; keep the /r/ subtle in non-rhotic accents. IPA guidance helps you map each phoneme precisely.”,
Two frequent errors: flattening the /oʊ/ to a simple /o/ and misplacing the stress by saying /ˌæˈproʊpriˌeɪtid/ or not voicing the final /d/. Correct by curling the tongue for /oʊ/ and keeping the second syllable as the main stress: ə-PROH-pri-ate-id. Practice slow, emphasize the /ˈproʊ/ chunk, and finish with a crisp /d/ or /t/ depending on linking.
US tends to clear /r/ and maintain /oʊ/ in PRO, with a distinct /ɪd/ or /eɪtɪd/ ending in rapid speech. UK often has a schwa in the first syllable and a slightly tighter /ɔː/ for /oʊ/; rhoticity varies by region but most speakers link the /r/ less. Australian tends to glide vowels less than US, with a broader /aɪ/ in -ate- and a faint /t/ in the ending. Consult IPA guides for exact vowels: /əˈproʊ.priˌeɪ.tɪd/ (US), /əˈprəʊ.priˌeɪ.tɪd/ (UK), /əˈprɒː.priˌeɪ.tɪd/ (AU).
Because it blends a stressed multisyllabic rhythm with a front-heavy /pr/ cluster and a trailing /eɪtɪd/ sequence. The /ə/ initial reduces, while the /proʊ/ portion demands a strong, rounded vowel and precise /r/ handling in rhotic vs non-rhotic accents. The final –ed can be realized as /ɪd/ or a silent-ish /d/ in fast speech. Mastery comes from slow, phoneme-by-phoneme practice and listening drills.
The prominence of the /pr/ cluster; many learners place a lighter /p/ or slide directly from the schwa into /proʊ/. Ensure a plosive release on /p/ and an audible /r/ (where applicable). Also, the /eɪ/ in the penultimate syllable should be clearly heard before the final /tɪd/ or /t/; don’t swallow the /eɪ/. An attentive listener will hear the crisp /əˈproʊ.priˌeɪ.tɪd/.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "appropriated"!
- Shadowing: listen to a 2-step sentence aloud; imitate rhythm and stresses: 1) The council appropriated funds, 2) They appropriated cultural symbols carefully. - Minimal pairs: focus on /oʊ/ vs /əʊ/ in pro-; practice /ˈproʊ/ vs /ˈproʊ/ with slight vowel variation. - Rhythm: practice three-beat groupings in each syllable: a-PROH-pri-ATE-id, then compress to natural speech. - Stress practice: mark stress in sentences; ensure the second syllable remains prominent. - Recording: compare your audio with native samples; adjust intonation to fall after the final stressed syllable. - Context sentences: 2 contexts showing formal budgeting and cultural critique. - Repetition: repeat 5-6 times daily to improve memory and mouth-massed articulation.
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