adopt

[ uh-dopt ]

/ əˈdɒpt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR adopt ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to choose or take as one's own; make one's own by selection or assent: to adopt a nickname.

to take and rear (the child of other parents) as one's own child, specifically by a formal legal act.

to take or receive into any kind of new relationship: to adopt a person as a protégé.

to select as a basic or required textbook or series of textbooks in a course.

to vote to accept: The House adopted the report.

to accept or act in accordance with (a plan, principle, etc.).

Verb Phrases

adopt out, to place (a child) for adoption: The institution may keep a child or adopt it out.

Origin of adopt

1490–1500; (< Middle French adopter) < Latin adoptāre, equivalent to ad- ad- + optāre to opt

OTHER WORDS FROM adopt

a·dopt·er, noun non·a·dopt·er, noun pre·a·dopt, verb (used with object) qua·si-a·dopt, verb (used with object)

qua·si-a·dopt·ed, adjective re·a·dopt, verb (used with object) un·a·dopt·ed, adjective well-a·dopt·ed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH adopt

adapt adept adopt adopted adoptive

Words nearby adopt

adon olam, adonai, adonic, adonijah, adonis, adopt, adoptable, adopted, adoptee, adoption, adoption curve

Example sentences from the Web for adopt

Now Wisconsin is considering making it mandatory for parents who adopt overseas to have their children “re-adopted” in the state.

Judge: Rehoming Kids Is Trafficking |Tina Traster |December 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Some of the most explosive opportunities could be based around things that the Western world seems reluctant to adopt.

Silicon Valley Sets Its Sights on Africa |Christian Borys |December 22, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
How many shootings will it take before we adopt common sense gun control?

A Navy Vet’s Case for Gun Control |Shawn VanDiver |November 23, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Wins such as Hobby Lobby, far from leading them to adopt a more relaxed posture, merely prove the need for more work.

The Christian Right’s New GOTV Motivator |Sarah Posner |November 7, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

She began to adopt a neorealist aesthetic, seeing the beauty in “imperfections.”

Life After ‘Winter’s Bone’: Debra Granik on Finding J. Law and the Plight of the Female Director |Marlow Stern |October 24, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Should one be in doubt, the rule is to glance at the hostess and adopt her method, whatever that may be.

The Etiquette of To-day |Edith B. Ordway
Such a child, for example, is the little girl the Moslem is ready to adopt and convert to the faith.

Lotus Buds |Amy Carmichael
He had scarcely arrived when he made every exertion to urge it to adopt measures of severity.

History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, Volume III |J. H. Merle D'Aubign
“We got to adopt ourselves to new ways, old Sure-Shot,” he ruminated aloud.

The Fighting Edge |William MacLeod Raine
Had he any measure of his own to propose, or was he willing to adopt the propositions of others?

The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III. |E. Farr and E. H. Nolan

British Dictionary definitions for adopt

adopt

/ (əˈdɒpt) /

verb (tr)

law to bring (a person) into a specific relationship, esp to take (another's child) as one's own child

to choose and follow (a plan, technique, etc)

to take over (an idea, etc) as if it were one's own

to take on; assume to adopt a title

to accept (a report, etc)

Derived forms of adopt

adoptee, noun adopter, noun adoption, noun

Word Origin for adopt

C16: from Latin adoptāre to choose for oneself, from optāre to choose

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

adopt

verb (used with object)

Verb Phrases

Origin of adopt

OTHER WORDS FROM adopt

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH adopt

Words nearby adopt

Example sentences from the Web for adopt

British Dictionary definitions for adopt

verb (tr)

Derived forms of adopt

Word Origin for adopt

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

adopt

verb (used with object)

Verb Phrases

Origin of adopt

OTHER WORDS FROM adopt

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH adopt

Words nearby adopt

Words related to adopt

Example sentences from the Web for adopt

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for adopt

verb (tr)

Derived forms of adopt

Word Origin for adopt

British Dictionary definitions for adopt