adaptable
Americanadjective
-
capable of being adapted.
-
able to adjust oneself readily to different conditions.
an adaptable person.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of adaptable
Explanation
Something that is adaptable can change to fit its environment, whether that environment is natural or social. The level to which a species is adaptable to changing surroundings is an important factor in the study of evolution. Let’s look at the Latin word adaptāre, from the root aptus "fitted." The ad- means "to, while the aptare means "join." Since 15th-century medieval French, the word adapt has come to mean "to fit in or adjust." So something adaptable is something that "fits in or adjusts." An example of an adaptable creature is the arctic fox, whose fur changes from dirt-dark in summer to snow-white in winter, to better blend in with its surroundings.
Vocabulary lists containing adaptable
Power Suffix: -able
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Positive Adjectives to Describe People
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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.
Adaptable to all of the United States, except for Florida and South Texas, its bulbs are exceptional keepers, lasting a year or longer under good storage conditions.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 14, 2023
Adaptable homes - these are step-free, more spacious and may offer limited wheelchair access, but will likely require costly adaptations, such as a level access shower.
From BBC • Dec. 2, 2022
Stir them into Endlessly Adaptable Cookie Bars or your favorite quick bread.
From Washington Post • Nov. 27, 2019
Adaptable as patriotic songs may be, the persistence of the German national anthem is still strange and surprising.
From The New Yorker • Feb. 18, 2017
Adaptable as we have to be, it's quite a shock going from cadet-candidate to Ranger; it'll take you a couple of days to get back to normal.
From A Matter of Honor A Terran Empire novel by Wilson, Ann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
