Synonyms

adjust

American

[uh-juhst] / əˈdʒʌst /

verb (used with object)

to change (something) so that it fits, corresponds, or conforms; adapt; accommodate.

to adjust expenses to income.
to put in good working order; regulate; bring to a proper state or position.

to adjust an instrument.

Synonyms:

fix, repair, set
to settle or bring to a satisfactory state, so that parties are agreed in the result.

to adjust our differences.

Synonyms:

reconcile, rectify, arrange
Insurance. to determine the amount to be paid in settlement of (a claim).
to systematize.
Military. to correct the elevation or deflection of (a gun).

verb (used without object)

to adapt oneself; become adapted.

They had no problems in adjusting at the new school.

adjust British

/ əˈdʒʌst /

verb

(tr) to alter slightly, esp to achieve accuracy; regulate

to adjust the television
to adapt, as to a new environment, etc
(tr) to put into order
(tr) insurance to determine the amount payable in settlement of (a claim)

"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 adjust mean? To adjust is to change something so that it fits or adapts to something else or to its environment, as in Macky adjusted the menu so that it included more healthy dishes. To adjust is also to fix or put into a correct position or state, as in Adjust the radio dial, please, so that the station comes in clearly. To adjust also means to put into a satisfactory state, as in Laird adjusted the pitch of his voice to blend in better with the rest of the choir. Adjust can also be used as a synonym for adapt and can be used in reference to people, animals, or objects. For example, if you move to a new city, you may need time to adjust to your new home, learning what’s available and where everything is. Example: Adjust the speakers so that they are facing the audience.

Synonym Usage

Adjust, adapt, alter in their literal meanings imply making necessary or desirable changes (as in position, shape, or the like). To adjust is to move into proper position for use: to adjust the eyepiece of a telescope. To adapt is to make a change in character, to make something useful in a new way: to adapt a paper clip for a hairpin. To alter is to change the appearance but not the use: to alter the height of a table.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of adjust

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English ajusten, from Anglo-French ajuster, Old French aj(o)uster “to make conform to,” verb derivative (with a- a- ⁵ ) of juste “right” ( see just ¹), influenced in sense by ajoster, ajouter “to add,” from Late Latin adjuxtāre ( see ad-, joust)

Explanation

When you adjust to something, you change so that you can fit in, conform, or keep on going. Arriving at a new school almost always requires that you adjust a little. Once you adjust, you'll find you're as happy as you were in your old school. To adjust doesn't mean to transform in a major way. It implies small but important changes that make a big difference. If you adjust your speed by just ten miles per hour, you'll get more than fifty more miles per fill-up. You can adjust your hair to make it fancier, you can adjust your lifestyle to make it more sober, or you can adjust your attitude to make yourself less annoying. You used to have to adjust your TV antenna to get a better picture. Ask your mom.

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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:

adjust adjusts adjusted adjusting

Economists say that consumers generally focus more on the cumulative effect of years of steadily rising prices than on individual monthly metrics, and that it takes years for consumers to adjust to new price baselines.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

Find someone who will adjust your plan as your life changes.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026

The council urged the international community to "adjust further its engagement with any stakeholders in Afghanistan" with regard to human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Afghans.

From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026

Hernández took a circuitous route to the ball, trying to cut it off and then having to adjust back when it became clear he was too shallow.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026

I walk out into the courtyard, and when my eyes adjust to the darkness, I hide the parchment deep in one of the crevices in the wall surrounding our house.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

That pattern suggests the sleeping brain adjusts its blood vessels in response to changing neuronal activity and metabolic demand.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026

The US Open was meant to salvage Sabalenka's season - but she must now regroup as she adjusts to her position as world number two.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

All eyes have been on Justin Herbert this offseason as he adjusts to Mike McDaniel’s new-look offense.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

In 2026 there have been multiple hits to production worldwide and to accommodate for this, Price adjusts his global mine supply forecast by 3.5% every year.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026

Colin adjusts his cap, retrieves the LDV armband from his pocket, and puts it on.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

There are also Treasury inflation-protected securities, which are bonds whose principal is adjusted to reflect the rate of consumer-price index inflation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

Based on estimates adjusted to match calendar years, analysts expect Graham’s earnings per share to increase from $1.43 this year to $2.04 in 2027 and $2.59 in 2028.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

For the year, PepsiCo cut its adjusted earnings outlook to between up 1% and up 2%, compared with a prior forecast of up 4% to up 6%.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

Where the ship couldn't sail sections of the river, we arranged coach transfers, hotel stays and adjusted travel arrangements to minimise transfer times so customers could still visit destinations, including Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

Headmaster, however, adjusted the order, taking Neel by the arm and pulling him to the back.

From "Tiger Boy" by Mitali Perkins

“I’m from the South,” he replied, proudly adjusting his hat.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026

That has scrambled the usual buyer playbook for adjusting to higher borrowing costs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

"In the last three years, I've been creating an annual menu that I end up adjusting many times, almost weekly, because certain products aren't available," Brazilian chef Alex Atala told AFP.

From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026

Even so, it can continue processing information when energy is limited by adjusting how available resources are used.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026

He was having a difficult time adjusting to being alone.

From "The View From Saturday" by E.L. Konigsburg

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