adopt
Americanverb (used with object)
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to choose or take as one's own; make one's own by selection or assent.
to adopt a nickname.
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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.
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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.
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to take or receive into any kind of new relationship.
to adopt a person as a protégé.
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to select as a basic or required textbook or series of textbooks in a course.
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to vote to accept.
The House adopted the report.
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to accept or act in accordance with (a plan, principle, etc.).
verb (used without object)
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to take a nonbiological child into one’s home and raise as one’s own.
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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
verb
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law to bring (a person) into a specific relationship, esp to take (another's child) as one's own child
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to choose and follow (a plan, technique, etc)
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to take over (an idea, etc) as if it were one's own
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to take on; assume
to adopt a title
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to accept (a report, etc)
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
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adopteenoun
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adopternoun
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adoptionnoun
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nonadopternoun
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preadoptverb (used with object)
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quasi-adoptverb (used with object)
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readoptverb (used with object)
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quasi-adoptedadjective
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unadoptedadjective
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well-adoptedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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adoptsimple
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adoptssimple
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have adoptedperfect
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has adoptedperfect
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am adoptingprogressive
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are adoptingprogressive
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is adoptingprogressive
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have been adoptingperfect progressive
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has been adoptingperfect progressive
Past
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adoptedsimple
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had adoptedperfect
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was adoptingprogressive
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were adoptingprogressive
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had been adoptingperfect progressive
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.
Vocabulary lists containing adopt
It's All in the Family
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Commonly Confused Words, List 1
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Common Five-letter Words for Wordle, List 3
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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:
But there’s another reason successors like Graham often adopt their male predecessors’ stances: political expedience.
From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026
The administration announced levies of 10% for countries that have bans on forced labor and 12.5% on those that have failed to adopt such prohibitions.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
He said he would oppose any effort to adopt daylight saving year-round.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
OpenAI recently hired Denise Dresser, the former Slack CEO, as chief revenue officer, tasking her with growing sales among large businesses looking to adopt AI tools in their workforces.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
“Do you think it would have taken two years for someone to adopt me if I had arms?”
From "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" by Dusti Bowling
Pondering the American way of aging, Schiller initially adopts a posture of ignorance and naivete so extreme that it seems like a pose.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
While management expects average revenue per user to stabilize, he remains concerned about continued weakness in the subscriber base and adopts a more cautious stance until clearer signs of recovery emerge.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
Chowdhury, a queer artist who enjoys sampling performance modes, adopts the figure of the grieving Bollywood widow.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026
Despite that, the Scots' showings at the past two Euros and the brand of football Clarke adopts had some fans wanting a fresh change.
From BBC ● May 28, 2026
In May, Congress adopts a gag rule designed to prohibit any discussion of petitions related to slavery.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
Attention has now shifted to Brussels after the European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution calling for an end to EU alumina exports to Russia.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
Just because the children may already be adopted in Singapore, that "should not be treated as the final outcome", she added.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
One place that recently adopted permanent daylight saving time is British Columbia.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
New York adopted a temporary, targeted pause on new hyperscale AI data centers that use 50 megawatts or more while we establish clear rules for an industry that will reshape our economy for generations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
He shared his food with me and sort of adopted me.
From "Born Behind Bars" by Padma Venkatraman
Boeing is adopting a more cautious approach, insisting that three conditions must be met before launching a new aircraft: finances, technology readiness and a mature market.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
Investors need to know companies are not only adopting AI in significant ways, but also documenting it in financial statements, earnings calls, investments and workforce reduction.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
"We are adopting a more business-friendly and, may I say so, savvy approach," said EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
There’s more households that are adopting GLP-1s in their lives and that creates different habits for consumers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
“We understand that you’re in the process of adopting a little girl. Are you aware her mother is fighting to regain custody?”
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
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.
