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adapt

verb
\ ə-ˈdapt How to pronounce adapt (audio) , a-\
adapted; adapting; adapts

Definition of adapt

transitive verb

: to make fit (as for a new use) often by modification adapt the curriculum to students' needs

intransitive verb

: to become adapted adapt to a new enviroment
Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about adapt

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Choose the Right Synonym for adapt

adapt, adjust, accommodate, conform, reconcile mean to bring one thing into correspondence with another. adapt implies a modification according to changing circumstances. adapted themselves to the warmer climate adjust suggests bringing into a close and exact correspondence or harmony such as exists between parts of a mechanism. adjusted the budget to allow for inflation accommodate may suggest yielding or compromising to effect a correspondence. accommodated his political beliefs in order to win conform applies to bringing into accordance with a pattern, example, or principle. refused to conform to society's values reconcile implies the demonstration of the underlying compatibility of things that seem to be incompatible. tried to reconcile what he said with what I knew

Did You Know?

Rooted in the origins of "adapt" is the idea of becoming specifically "fit" for something. English speakers adapted "adapt" in the 15th century from the French adapter, which itself traces to the Latin forms aptare, meaning "to fit," and aptus, meaning "fit" or "apt." Other descendants of "aptus" in English include "aptitude," "inept," and of course "apt" itself, as well as "unapt" and "inapt."

Examples of adapt in a Sentence

When children go to a different school, it usually takes them a while to adapt. She has adapted herself to college life quite easily. The camera has been adapted for underwater use. The clock was adapted to run on batteries. The movie was adapted from the book of the same title. adapting the movie for television
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Recent Examples on the Web

 This is in the spirit of everyone enjoying themselves, but also to make sure the group knows itself and its skill-set well and is prepared to adapt in the case of a change in plans or an emergency. — Alli Harvey, Anchorage Daily News, "The art of the outdoors deal," 5 Sep. 2019 Research published last year by the IMF acknowledges that low interest rates have been a particular challenge for Europe’s lenders, and suggests that the region will need a smaller, more consolidated banking sector in order to adapt. — John Detrixhe, Quartz, "Low interest rates could be a “Blockbuster Video moment” for the world’s biggest banks," 3 Sep. 2019 Thanks to traffic prediction and real-time monitoring, the elevators can switch between strategies to adapt to the morning or close-of-business rush. — Jesse Dunietz, Popular Mechanics, "The Hidden Science of Elevators," 2 Sep. 2019 In reality, however, the material needs to be adapted to those industrial processes. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Milestone Carbon-Nanotube Microchip Sends First Message: ‘Hello World!’," 30 Aug. 2019 This continual rewriting breaks down any claims to ownership of characters or scenes, and means that each author has to adapt his or her personal input to the overarching style of the group. — Ceridwen Dovey, The New Yorker, "Can You Write a Novel as a Group?," 30 Aug. 2019 Humans can think about the world using abstract concepts, and can remix those concepts to adapt to new situations. — Tom Simonite, WIRED, "Ask the Know-It-Alls: How Do Machines Learn?," 26 Aug. 2019 Vermont’s Huntington Open Women’s Land, or HOWL, is one location trying to adapt to what LGBTQ communities are looking for today. — Fortune, "Womyn’s Lands Adapt to the 21st Century: The Broadsheet," 26 Aug. 2019 Bentley and Busby said teacher preparation programs in colleges are changing to adapt to today’s learners. — al, "Sen. Doug Jones: Teacher shortage is ‘very complicated’," 24 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'adapt.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of adapt

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

History and Etymology for adapt

Middle English adapted (as translation of Latin adaptātus), borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French adapter, borrowed from Latin adaptāre, from ad- ad- + aptāre "to put into position, bring to bear, make ready," verbal derivative of aptus "fastened, prepared, suitable" — more at apt entry 1

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More Definitions for adapt

adapt

verb
How to pronounce adapt (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of adapt

: to change your behavior so that it is easier to live in a particular place or situation
: to change (something) so that it functions better or is better suited for a purpose
: to change (a movie, book, play, etc.) so that it can be presented in another form

See the full definition for adapt in the English Language Learners Dictionary

adapt

verb
\ ə-ˈdapt How to pronounce adapt (audio) \
adapted; adapting

Kids Definition of adapt

1 : to change behavior so that it is easier to function in a particular place or situation He easily adapted to high school.
2 : to make or become suitable or able to function The camera was adapted for underwater use.

adapt

transitive verb
\ ə-ˈdapt How to pronounce adapt (audio) \

Medical Definition of adapt

: to make fit (as for a specific or new use or situation) often by modification adapted himself to the new position

intransitive verb

: to become adapted : undergo adaptation

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