Meaning & use
adopt
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Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
To take a child legally into your family and become its parent, though you did not give birth to it.
Grammar: Usually takes an object: adopt a baby. It can be used without one when it is clear: they decided to adopt.
Patterns
- adopt a child
- adopt someone as something
They adopted a three-year-old girl from a nearby city.
After years of waiting, the couple were finally allowed to adopt.
The family adopted him when he was just a baby.
verbtransitive
To begin to use a new method, idea, style or attitude as your own.
Grammar: Always takes an object: adopt a policy, adopt a new approach.
Patterns
- adopt a policy
- adopt a strategy
- adopt an attitude
The school adopted a new reading program this fall.
He adopted a calm tone to avoid upsetting the child.
Many companies have adopted flexible working hours.
verbtransitiveformal
To accept something formally by a vote, so that it becomes official.
Grammar: Takes an object and often has a committee or council as subject: the board adopted the plan.
Patterns
- adopt a resolution
- adopt a motion
The council adopted the budget by a narrow vote.
The assembly adopted a resolution against the new tax.
Delegates adopted the report without any changes.
verbtransitive
To take care of an animal or plant by paying for its upkeep, often through a charity scheme.
Grammar: Takes an object and is common in charity campaigns: adopt a dog, adopt a tree.
Patterns
- adopt a pet
- adopt a dog from somewhere
We adopted a rescue dog from the local shelter.
Students adopted a stretch of beach and cleaned it monthly.
She adopted two kittens that were left outside the station.
Word forms
| third person singular | adopts |
|---|---|
| past tense | adopted |
| past participle | adopted |
| -ing form | adopting |
Common combinations
- adopt a child
- They hope to adopt a child within a year.
- adopt a policy
- The government adopted a policy of lower taxes.
- adopt a new approach
- The manager adopted a new approach to training staff.
- adopt an attitude
- He adopted a relaxed attitude toward deadlines.
- adopt a pet
- Shelters encourage families to adopt a pet instead of buying one.
- officially adopt
- The committee will officially adopt the rules next month.
Synonyms and how they differ
- embrace
- Embrace suggests welcoming an idea eagerly, whereas adopt only means starting to use it.
- take up
- Take up is more informal and often means to start a hobby or habit, not an official method.
- approve
- Approve only expresses agreement, but adopt means to put the thing into action as your own.
- assume
- Assume means to take on a manner or role, often one that is not genuine, while adopt is a chosen, lasting change.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: adopt or adapt? adopt or adept?
adopt vs adapt
Adapt means to change something to suit new conditions, while adopt means to take something on as your own; one letter changes the meaning.
adopt vs adept
Adept is an adjective meaning skilled at something, and is not a verb like adopt.
Practice
The town council voted to ______ the new recycling rules starting in January.
Choose one answer.
Adopt is used for formally accepting a rule or plan. Adapt means to modify something, so the council would adapt the rules only if it changed them.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “adopt”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.