to legally take another person's child into your own family and take care of him or her as your own child, to start to use a particular method or to show a particular attitude towards something, to choose or take on a particular name, title, or role

adopt a pet, adopt a highway, adopt a wait-and-see approach

Formal and Informal Expressions of adopt

In different contexts, you can replace 'adopt' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'embrace, assume' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'take on, go with' is a commonplace synonym.

adopt: Explore its Definition & Usage

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

Synonyms for adopt

foster
accept
assume
take in
embrace

Antonyms for adopt

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.
adopt a highway
to volunteer to clean up litter along a designated stretch of road
Example
Our community group has adopted a highway and we do regular cleanups.
adopt a wait-and-see approach
to delay making a decision until more information is available
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')

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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.