Which meaning of appropriate means to set aside or to devote to a specific purpose?

• A. To set aside or to devote to a specific purpose
• B. To take possession or control of something
• C. To steal
• D. To move nearer

Answer: (A)

The meaning being tested is the verb sense of appropriate as designating or earmarking something for a specific use. When you appropriate funds, land, or other resources, you are setting them aside for a particular purpose.

That makes the best choice the one that describes to set aside or to devote to a specific purpose, as in budgeting or planning contexts: funds are appropriated for a project, a department, or a service.

This differs from the sense of taking possession or control of something, which is another use of the word that emphasizes seizure or ownership rather than designated use. The option about stealing aligns with that idea of unlawful taking, which isn’t about allocating resources for a purpose. The option about moving nearer is unrelated to the meaning in question.