adopt Definition
- 1to legally take another person's child into your own family and take care of him or her as your own child
- 2to start to use a particular method or to show a particular attitude towards something
- 3to choose or take on a particular name, title, or role
Using adopt: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "adopt" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
They decided to adopt a child from overseas.
Example
The company has adopted a new policy on employee benefits.
Example
He adopted a new persona when he moved to the city.
Example
She was adopted by her grandparents after her parents passed away.
Example
The committee voted to adopt the proposal.
adopt Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with adopt
adopt a pet
to take an animal from a shelter or rescue organization and make it a part of your family
Example
We decided to adopt a dog from the local animal shelter.
Example
Our community group has adopted a highway and we do regular cleanups.
Example
The company has decided to adopt a wait-and-see approach before investing in the new technology.
Origins of adopt
from Old French 'adopter', from Latin 'adoptare', from 'ad-' ('to') + 'optare' ('choose')
Summary: adopt in Brief
To 'adopt' [əˈdɒpt] means to legally take someone else's child into your own family, to start using a particular method or attitude, or to choose a particular name, title, or role. Examples include 'They decided to adopt a child from overseas' and 'The company has adopted a new policy on employee benefits.' Phrases like 'adopt a pet' and 'adopt a highway' extend the meaning to taking in animals or volunteering for community service. 'Adopt a wait-and-see approach' suggests delaying a decision until more information is available.
