- 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)
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
a•dopt /əˈdɑpt/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
a•dopt•a•ble, adj.
a•dopt•er, n. [countable]See -opt-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to take up and use or practice:to adopt a nickname; adopt a wait-and-see attitude.
- to take and rear (the child of others) as one's own child, esp. by a formal legal act:to adopt a baby.
- to accept formally:The committee adopted the report.
a•dopt•a•ble, adj.
a•dopt•er, n. [countable]See -opt-.
a•dopt
(ə dopt′),USA pronunciation v.t.
a•dopt′er, n.
- 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.).
- adopt out, to place (a child) for adoption:The institution may keep a child or adopt it out.
- Latin adoptāre, equivalent. to ad- ad- + optāre to opt
- Middle French adopter)
- (1490–1500
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
adopt /əˈdɒpt/ vb (transitive)
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'adopt' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
address
- affect
- affiliate
- assume
- attention
- attitudinize
- Black Muslims
- borrow
- changeover
- curl up
- deploy
- ease
- embrace
- en garde
- espouse
- fall
- fall in
- fashionista
- go in
- lunatic fringe
- modernize
- native
- Pentecostal
- polarize
- put on
- read
- retreat
- settle down
- sit
- sit down
- square up
- stand
- take
- take up
- acculturize
- adoptable
- adoptee
- adoptive
- Common Market
- containerize
- convention
- convert
- cozy
- customs union
- defect
- Denver boot
- domesticate
- Egyptianize
- English
- exoticism
