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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

 Founded in 2006 by Jesse Rosenzweig, Brian Lewis and by longtime CEO Sam Blackman, Elemental made software to adapt sports, TV shows and other video to stream online. — Mike Rogoway, oregonlive.com, "Amazon will hire 400 for expanded Portland office," 21 Aug. 2019 Making Cerebras’ giant chip required TSMC to adapt its equipment to make one continuous design, instead of a grid of many separate ones, Paulsen says. — Tom Simonite, WIRED, "To Power AI, This Startup Built a Really, Really Big Chip," 19 Aug. 2019 Agatha Christie’s mystery adapted by Ken Ludwig and directed by Rob Melrose. — Houston Chronicle, "On stage: Here’s what playing on Houston stages this week," 15 Aug. 2019 Another Underground hit show currently in its third season, the prison drama El Marginal, was adapted by Telemundo International Studios last year under the title El Recluso for the U.S. Hispanic market. — Agustin Mango, The Hollywood Reporter, "Telemundo Acquires Argentina's Underground Producciones," 15 Aug. 2019 The global advertising industry itself is struggling both to adapt its internal practices to increasingly loud calls for gender equality, and to produce ads that avoid lazy stereotypes. — Cassie Werber, Quartz, "Bans for these two ads show the UK is getting tough on gender stereotyping," 15 Aug. 2019 Poor countries have less capacity than rich ones to adapt to changing weather patterns, and tend to be closer to the equator, where weather patterns are becoming most volatile. — The Economist, "Countries most exposed to climate change face higher costs of capital," 15 Aug. 2019 And Tomi Adeyemi’s bestselling fantasy novel Children of Blood and Bone is set to be adapted by Disney. — Sydney Scott, Essence, "The New Trailer For 'Power' Is All About Betrayal," 9 Aug. 2019 The script was co-adapted by the Taylor-Johnsons, a change from the previously attempt to make this book a movie at Warner Bros. that had Frey writing the script himself. — Nick Romano, EW.com, "A Million Little Pieces trailer reveals movie adaptation of controversial memoir," 8 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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