adopt
verb
\ ə-ˈdäpt
\
\
adopted;
adopting;
adopts
Definition of adopt
1
: to take by choice into a relationship
especially
: to take voluntarily (a child of other parents) as one's own child
2
: to take up and practice or use
adopted a moderate tone
3
: to accept formally and put into effect
adopt a constitutional amendment
4
: to choose (a textbook) for required study in a course
5
: to sponsor the care and maintenance of
adopt a highway
: to adopt a child
couples choosing to adopt
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Other Words from adopt
adoptability
\ -ˌdäp-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē
\
noun
\
noun
adoptable
\ -ˈdäp-tə-bəl
\
adjective
\
adjective
adopter
noun
Examples of adopt in a Sentence
They were unable to have children of their own, so they decided to adopt.
They decided to adopt a child.
He was adopted as an infant.
Did he adopt your point of view?
We adopted some of the local customs.
The author Samuel Clemens adopted the name “Mark Twain.”
He was born in England but he has adopted Canada as his home.
The assembly adopted a new constitution.
The resolution was unanimously adopted by the Senate.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Hoda adopted Hope in mid-April and has been on maternity leave ever since. — Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, "'Today' Show Star Hoda Kotb Shares Rare Instagram Photo of Baby Hope Catherine," 24 Aug. 2019 Moe and Hollis Leary had adopted Marie’s sister Noelle, now 12, as a baby years earlier. — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, "She’s been bounced through more than a dozen foster homes. And she’s just 6," 24 Aug. 2019 The council adopted the budget, with the fee, in late June. — David Anderson, baltimoresun.com, "Havre de Grace seeks to borrow more than $14 million for water and sewer repairs," 23 Aug. 2019 Maeve and Mairéad Contant Siblings Maeve, 7, and Mairéad Contant, 5, are adopted from China and have albinism, a genetic condition where there is little or no production of the pigment melanin. — Diane Herbst, PEOPLE.com, "8 Children with Custom Dolls Just as Unique as They Are," 22 Aug. 2019 Boris Johnson, who succeeded Theresa May as prime minister midway through the tanker crisis, has adopted a confrontational position towards the EU regarding Brexit. — The Economist, "What Britain’s release of an Iranian tanker says about its post-Brexit foreign policy," 22 Aug. 2019 Dozens of coding boot camps have adopted this approach to offer two- to nine-month programs in technical specialties. — Michael J. Coren, Quartz, "Startups want to turn your tuition into the next asset class. What could go wrong?," 22 Aug. 2019 In a fascinating twist, USC — which boasts some of the greatest running backs in NCAA history — has adopted to run a version of the Air Raid. — Michael Lev, azcentral, "Running back still at heart of Arizona, Pac-12 offenses," 22 Aug. 2019 Her mother was a homemaker, and Boston was adopted. — Lila Maclellan, Quartz at Work, "Lessons from a young professional who just finished repaying $222,817.26 of student loans," 22 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'adopt.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for adopt
adopt
verb
English Language Learners Definition of adopt
: to take a child of other parents legally as your own child
: to begin to use or have (a different manner, method, etc.)
: to begin to use (a name that is not your real or original name)
See the full definition for adopt in the English Language Learners Dictionary
adopt
verb
\ ə-ˈdäpt
\
\
adopted;
adopting
Kids Definition of adopt
1
: to legally take a child of other parents to raise
2
: to take up as someone's own
After moving to Quebec, he adopted French as his language.
3
: to accept and put into action
The state adopted a law requiring drivers to wear seat belts.
adopt
transitive verb
\ ə-ˈdäpt
\
\