What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
apt
Example
Her choice of words was apt for the occasion. [apt: adjective]
Example
He is apt at playing the piano. [apt: preposition]
Example
The professor made an apt analogy during the lecture. [apt: adjective]
appropriate
Example
It is not appropriate to wear jeans to a formal event. [appropriate: adjective]
Example
She appropriately thanked everyone for their support. [appropriately: adverb]
Example
He appropriated some funds for the project. [appropriated: past tense verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Appropriate is more commonly used than apt in everyday language. Appropriate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while apt is less common and tends to be used in more specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between apt and appropriate?
While apt is typically associated with a more casual and informal tone, appropriate is more versatile and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts, making it a more formal synonym overall.
