Synonyms

adopt

American

[uh-dopt] / əˈdɒpt /

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 responsibility for raising (someone else’s biological child) as one's own, specifically by a formal legal act.

After more than 300 days in foster care, the twins were adopted by a family that was able to keep the siblings together.
to acquire (a pet, especially one from an animal rescue organization).

Local animal rescue groups use social media to persuade people to adopt dogs and cats from them instead of purchasing puppies and kittens from pet shops or breeders.
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 (used without object)

to take a nonbiological child into one’s home and raise as one’s own.
to acquire a pet, especially one from an animal rescue organization.

“Adopt! Don’t shop!” is the popular slogan promoted by one nonprofit animal advocacy group.

verb phrase

adopt out to place in a home by means of adoption.

The shelter provides basic medical care and vaccinations to the animals they will be adopting out.

adopt British

/ əˈdɒpt /

verb

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)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does adopt mean? To adopt is to take another parent’s child into one’s custody, typically in a formal legal way, in order to permanently act as their parent or guardian. This most commonly involves an adult couple or a single adult adopting and raising a child who is no longer in the custody of either of their birth parents (biological parents), such as in cases where they have died or are otherwise unable to care for the child. This sense of adopt can also be used in reference to adopting an animal as a pet, such as from an animal shelter. The word is especially used this way when the animal had a previous caretaker. Adopt and the noun form adoption have many other more general meanings. Most generally, adopt means to choose or take as one's own. It can also mean to accept something or vote to approve it. In all cases, adoption is the act or process of adopting, or the state of having adopted. To adopt a tradition or religion is to make it one’s own. To adopt a plan is to approve it and act according to its steps. Similarly, to adopt a law is to formally vote to approve it and take steps to follow and enforce it. Example: We’ve found an agency that will help us to adopt.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of adopt

First recorded 1490–1500; late Middle English adopten, partly from Middle French adopter, partly from Latin adoptāre, equivalent to ad- verb prefix + optāre “to desire, pray for”; see ad-, opt

Explanation

You can adopt an air of nonchalance, a fake British accent, or even a stray dog. When you adopt something, you consciously select it and accept it as your own. The word adopt has many different shades of meaning, but most relate to the notion of taking something on and treating it as if it’s your own. You’re probably familiar with what happens if you adopt a child: you take on parental responsibilities and accept the child as if it’s your own. You can adopt other things — such as a plan, a method, or a point of view — in a similar way. For example, when you adopt a particular attitude — such as a respectful attitude — you select that as a way to present yourself and behave as if it is natural.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

adopt adopts adopted adopting

In a recent interview with me, Jain said such a sizable cut was required to push the company to adopt AI more quickly.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

In 2021,residents voted to adopt a model of self-governance, an option available to Indigenous communities in the state.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026

It is to the long frustration of the British authorities, who would like their neighbours to at least adopt a more "case-by-case" approach.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

"We have to adopt certain principles of conscious food systems to make it more mindful, so young people can relate to the connection to the land in their hearts, not just the economics," he said.

From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026

“This unassuming style promotes study, that’s why we adopt it,” returned Laurie, who certainly could not be accused of vanity, having voluntarily sacrificed a handsome curly crop to the demand for quarter-inch-long stubble.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

It adopts a helpful no-punishment philosophy: If you don’t meet your goals or you step away from the app for an extended amount of time, it only sends encouragement.

From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2026

“Until California adopts comprehensive wildfire reforms to provide long-term certainty for customers, wildfire victims and utilities, the Legislature should not advance policies that increase regulatory uncertainty and customer costs,” PG&E spokesperson Jennifer Robison said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

She adopts a robotic monotone as she delivers a critique: “Hi-hat at 3:14 down two decibels.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

Pressure and temperature alone may not determine which structure the material adopts.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026

Some know a great deal about cars and will be offended by a salesman who adopts a patronizing tone.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

The destructive ideological movements I left behind eight years earlier had crossed the ocean to my adopted homeland.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

A child born or adopted afterward may not be included unless you update the designation to add their names.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026

Once adopted, the state plan will set rules that determine how much water can be pumped out of the Delta and how much should stay in rivers and the estuary for fish and the environment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

The resolution seen by AFP was adopted by 23 votes in favour, three votes against and eight abstentions, they said.

From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026

Elizebeth and her team took note and adopted the same terms.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

Sean McVay and the Rams are adopting a different approach from the San Francisco 49ers by delaying travel to Melbourne, Australia, for their season opener.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026

By adopting Nvidia’s platform to assist customers in developing custom AI processors, clients can quickly scale from silicon to rack with the custom chips guaranteed to work seamlessly together with Nvidia’s GPUs, they note.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

The first overlooked ruler identified by Edmonds and Frahm used the name Tiglath-pileser, apparently adopting the name of an earlier Assyrian king.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 26, 2026

Riksbank policymakers have held rates steady for seven consecutive meetings, adopting a wait-and-see stance to monitor inflation and economic developments.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

Although he likes me, he seems to be adopting the man.

From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023