co-opt

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive

   to bring someone into a group by invitation or election, often to gain their support or use their skills.

   Grammar: Takes an object: co-opt a new member.

   Patterns

   • co-opt someone onto something
   • co-opt someone as something
   • co-opt someone into something

   The board decided to co-opt two outside experts onto the committee.

   She was co-opted as a temporary member until the next election.

   They co-opted him into the project because of his language skills.

2. 2verbtransitive

   to take over or use something for your own purposes, sometimes without permission.

   Grammar: Takes an object: co-opt an idea.

   Patterns

   • co-opt something for something
   • co-opt something from someone

   The company co-opted the popular slogan for its own advertising campaign.

   Protest groups complained that their message had been co-opted by politicians.

   He co-opted the meeting for his own agenda.

Word forms

Common combinations

co-opt someone onto a committee

They co-opted a local teacher onto the committee.

co-opt an idea

Advertisers often co-opt ideas from youth culture.

be co-opted into something

She was co-opted into the leadership team.

co-opt the agenda

The chair tried to co-opt the agenda for personal reasons.

Synonyms and how they differ

appoint

Used for giving someone a job or position, often officially; co-opt is more about inviting someone into a group that already exists.

absorb

Used when one thing takes in another gradually; co-opt suggests a more deliberate taking over.

appropriate

Means to take something for your own use, often without permission; co-opt is similar but often less negative.

Word family

co-option noun

The act of co-opting someone or something.

co-optation noun

A less common variant of co-option.

Commonly confused: co-opt or cooperate?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “co-opt”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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