Explanation at your level:
To adopt means to take something new. For example, you can adopt a cat from a shelter. It becomes your pet. You take care of it forever.
When you adopt a child, you become their parent. You can also adopt a new way of doing homework. It means choosing to use something different.
In business, companies adopt new technologies to work faster. It is a deliberate choice to change how things are done. It shows you are ready for something new.
We often adopt a specific tone or attitude in different situations. For instance, you might adopt a professional tone during a meeting. It is about intentionally selecting a behavior.
The term is frequently used in policy-making, where governments adopt legislation. It implies a formal, binding decision that shifts the status quo. It carries weight and authority.
Etymologically, adopt reflects the human capacity for agency. By adopting a philosophy or a child, we reshape our identity. It is a transformative act of will that bridges the gap between 'wishing' and 'owning.'
Word in 30 Seconds
- To take a child into a family.
- To choose to use a new idea.
- Formal and common in business.
- Regular verb form.
When you adopt something, you are making a conscious choice to bring it into your life. Whether it is a new pet, a child, or a new way of doing things at work, the word implies a sense of commitment.
Think of it as the opposite of discarding or ignoring. By adopting a new strategy, you are saying, 'I choose this, and I am going to use it from now on.' It is a powerful word that signals change and growth.
The word adopt comes from the Latin adoptare, which is a combination of ad- (to) and optare (to choose or wish). Essentially, it means 'to choose for oneself.'
Historically, it was used in Roman law to describe the formal process of taking someone into a family. Over centuries, the meaning expanded from just people to ideas, customs, and technologies, reflecting how human society evolves by 'choosing' what works best.
You will often see adopt used in professional settings, such as 'adopting a new policy' or 'adopting a resolution.' In personal life, it is most commonly associated with 'adopting a child' or 'adopting a pet from a shelter.'
It is a formal, standard verb. You wouldn't say 'I adopted a sandwich,' because that sounds strange; it is reserved for things that require a lasting, deliberate decision.
While 'adopt' doesn't have many idioms, it is often used in fixed phrases.
- Adopt a wait-and-see approach: To delay a decision.
- Adopt a stance: To take a specific position on an issue.
- Adopt a new lifestyle: To change your daily habits.
- Adopt a child: The most common legal usage.
- Adopt a pet: Saving an animal from a shelter.
Pronunciation: US: /əˈdɑːpt/, UK: /əˈdɒpt/. The stress is on the second syllable.
It is a regular verb: adopts, adopted, adopting. It is a transitive verb, meaning it almost always takes a direct object (e.g., 'They adopted a cat').
Fun Fact
The root 'opt' is the same as in 'option'.
Pronunciation Guide
Short 'o' sound.
Open 'ah' sound.
Common Errors
- Mixing up the 'o' sounds
- Stress on the first syllable
- Adding an extra vowel sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to understand
Easy to use
Easy to pronounce
Clear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Transitive Verbs
I adopted it.
Past Tense
I adopted.
Subject-Verb Agreement
He adopts.
Examples by Level
They want to adopt a dog.
want to/take in/dog
Verb + to-infinitive.
She adopted a kitten.
past/take in/cat
Past tense.
We will adopt a new plan.
future/new/plan
Future tense.
Do not adopt wild animals.
negative/wild/animals
Imperative.
They adopted the child.
past/the/child
Transitive verb.
Many people adopt pets.
many/take in/pets
Present simple.
He likes to adopt ideas.
likes/take in/ideas
Infinitive.
Can we adopt a puppy?
can/take in/puppy
Modal verb.
The city adopted new rules.
She decided to adopt a healthier diet.
They adopted the stray cat.
We need to adopt a new strategy.
He adopted a serious expression.
The school adopted a new curriculum.
They adopted the baby last year.
Many families adopt children.
The company adopted a remote work policy.
She adopted a calm tone during the argument.
They adopted the latest software.
He adopted the customs of his new country.
The committee adopted the proposal.
We should adopt a more flexible approach.
They adopted a puppy from the rescue.
She adopted a new hobby.
The government adopted a strict stance on climate change.
He adopted a sophisticated persona.
The team adopted a defensive strategy.
They adopted the principles of the organization.
She adopted a wait-and-see attitude.
The law was adopted by the council.
They adopted a child from overseas.
We must adopt a global perspective.
The board adopted a resolution to expand.
He adopted an air of indifference.
They adopted the methodology of their predecessors.
The nation adopted a new constitution.
She adopted a rigorous academic approach.
The project adopted a sustainable framework.
They adopted the cultural norms quickly.
The council adopted the budget unanimously.
The poet adopted a melancholic voice.
They adopted the tenets of the movement.
The firm adopted a radical paradigm shift.
She adopted a posture of defiance.
The state adopted the new penal code.
They adopted the vernacular of the region.
He adopted a stoic philosophy.
The group adopted the mantle of leadership.
Synonyms
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"adopt a wait-and-see approach"
delaying action
Let's adopt a wait-and-see approach.
neutral"adopt a low profile"
staying unnoticed
He decided to adopt a low profile.
casual"adopt a hard line"
being strict
The boss adopted a hard line.
neutral"adopt a new lease on life"
renewed energy
He adopted a new lease on life.
idiomatic"adopt a pose"
pretending
She adopted a pose of surprise.
literaryEasily Confused
similar spelling
adopt=take, adapt=change
I adopt a cat; I adapt to the cold.
similar sound
adept=skilled
He is adept at coding.
adjective form
describes the relationship
My adoptive parents.
adjective form
can be adopted
The puppy is adoptable.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + adopt + noun
They adopted a dog.
Subject + adopt + [adjective] + noun
She adopted a new policy.
Subject + decided to + adopt
He decided to adopt.
The + noun + was + adopted
The law was adopted.
Subject + adopt + [prepositional phrase]
They adopted the child from abroad.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Adopt means to take; adapt means to change.
You don't need a preposition.
You adapt to a house, you don't adopt it.
Adopt is for children, pets, or ideas.
He adopts, they adopt.
Tips
Context Matters
Use adopt for people or ideas.
Don't say 'adapt a child'
Always use adopt.
Latin Roots
It comes from 'to choose'.
Flashcards
Use 'adopt a pet' on one side.
Stress
Stress the second syllable.
Family
It is a very positive word.
Transitive
Needs an object.
Association
Think of a new family member.
Read news
Look for 'adopt a policy' in news.
Daily life
Used when talking about pets.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Adopt = A-D-O-P-T (Always Do Our Part Together)
Visual Association
A family welcoming a new member.
Word Web
Challenge
Write three things you would like to adopt into your life.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: To choose for oneself
Cultural Context
Sensitive topic regarding family identity.
Commonly used in legal and family contexts.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Animal Shelter
- adopt a pet
- rescue animal
- find a home
Legal/Family
- adopt a child
- legal adoption
- birth parent
Business
- adopt a policy
- adopt a strategy
- implement change
General
- adopt a lifestyle
- adopt an attitude
- adopt a habit
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever adopted a pet?"
"What new habit would you like to adopt?"
"Why do people adopt children?"
"What is a policy your school adopted?"
"Do you think it is easy to adopt a new lifestyle?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you adopted a new way of thinking.
If you could adopt any pet, what would it be?
Why is adoption important for society?
Describe a policy you would adopt if you were a leader.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, usually not.
Yes.
Adopt is to take, adapt is to change.
uh-DOPT.
It is standard in both formal and informal contexts.
Yes, it means to start using it.
Yes.
Adoptive.
Test Yourself
They want to ___ a cat.
Adopt is for taking in a pet.
What does adopt mean?
Adopt means to choose to keep.
You can adopt a sandwich.
Adopt is for living things or ideas.
Word
Meaning
Adopt is for taking, adapt is for changing.
Subject-Verb-Object.
Score: /5
Summary
To adopt is to deliberately choose to bring something or someone into your life permanently.
- To take a child into a family.
- To choose to use a new idea.
- Formal and common in business.
- Regular verb form.
Context Matters
Use adopt for people or ideas.
Don't say 'adapt a child'
Always use adopt.
Latin Roots
It comes from 'to choose'.
Flashcards
Use 'adopt a pet' on one side.
Example
After years of waiting, they were finally able to adopt a child from overseas.
Related Content
Learn it in Context
This Word in Other Languages
More Family words
cousin
A1A cousin is the child of your aunt or uncle. It is a family member who shares the same grandparents as you but has different parents.
grandma
A1An informal and affectionate term for a grandmother, defined as the mother of one's father or mother. It is a common family title used in everyday conversation.
aunt
A1The sister of one's father or mother, or the wife of one's uncle. It is a kinship term used to describe a female member of the extended family.
obey
A1To do what you are told to do by a person, a rule, or a law. In a family, it specifically means children following the instructions given by their parents or elders.
couple
A1A couple refers to two people who are married or in a romantic relationship. It can also be used to describe two things of the same kind that are joined or considered together.
dad
A1An informal and affectionate name for a father, used primarily by children or within a family context. It refers to a male parent who provides care and support for his offspring.
sofa
A1A long, comfortable seat with a back and arms for two or more people to sit on at once. It is usually found in a living room and is designed for relaxing, reading, or watching television.
forgive
A1To stop feeling angry at someone who has done something wrong or made a mistake. It means you accept their apology and decide to move forward without being upset anymore.
circumpateral
C1Describes something that exists, moves, or is organized around a father figure or the paternal line. It is a rare, technical term used in sociology and genealogy to define structures or behaviors centered on a male patriarch.
circummaterize
C1Describes a state of being completely surrounded by or deeply rooted in maternal influence or the foundational material matrix from which something originates. It is often used to characterize environments, systems, or emotional states that are defined by their protective and originating physical borders.
