assimilate

American  

[uh-sim-uh-leyt, uh-sim-uh-lit, -leyt] / əˈsɪm əˌleɪt, əˈsɪm ə lɪt, -ˌleɪt /

verb (used with object)

assimilates, present (3rd person singular) assimilated, past participle, past assimilating present participle

1. to take in and incorporate as one's own; absorb.

   He assimilated many new experiences on his European trip.

2. to bring into conformity with the customs, attitudes, etc., of a dominant social group, nation, or the like; adapt or adjust.

   to assimilate the new immigrants.

3. Physiology. to convert (food) to substances suitable for incorporation into the body and its tissues.

4. to cause to resemble (usually followed by to orwith ).

5. to compare; liken (usually followed by to orwith ).

6. Phonetics. to modify by assimilation.

---

verb (used without object)

assimilates, present (3rd person singular) assimilated, past participle, past assimilating present participle

1. to be or become absorbed.

2. to conform or adjust to the customs, attitudes, etc., of a dominant social group, nation, or the like.

   The new arrivals assimilated easily and quickly.

3. Physiology. (of food) to be converted into the substance of the body; be absorbed into the system.

4. to bear a resemblance (usually followed by to orwith ).

5. Phonetics. to become modified by assimilation.

noun

1. something that is assimilated.

assimilate British  

/ əˈsɪmɪˌleɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to learn (information, a procedure, etc) and understand it thoroughly

2. (tr) to absorb (food) and incorporate it into the body tissues

3. (intr) to become absorbed, incorporated, or learned and understood

4. to bring or come into harmony; adjust or become adjusted

   the new immigrants assimilated easily

5. to become or cause to become similar

6. (usually foll by to) phonetics to change (a consonant) or (of a consonant) to be changed into another under the influence of one adjacent to it

   (n) often assimilates to ŋ before (k), as in ``include''

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• assimilation
  noun
• assimilator
  noun
• reassimilate
  verb
• assimilable
  adjective
• assimilative
  adjective
• nonassimilating
  adjective
• unassimilated
  adjective
• unassimilating
  adjective
• well-assimilated
  adjective
• assimilably
  adverb
• assimilatively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• assimilating
  present
• assimilated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• assimilate
  simple
• assimilates
  simple
• have assimilated
  perfect
• has assimilated
  perfect
• am assimilating
  progressive
• are assimilating
  progressive
• is assimilating
  progressive
• have been assimilating
  perfect progressive
• has been assimilating
  perfect progressive

Past

• assimilated
  simple
• had assimilated
  perfect
• was assimilating
  progressive
• were assimilating
  progressive
• had been assimilating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will assimilate
  simple
• will have assimilated
  perfect
• will be assimilating
  progressive
• will have been assimilating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of assimilate

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin assimilātus “likened to, made like” (past participle of assimilāre ), equivalent to as- as- + simil- ( see similar) + -ātus -ate ¹

Explanation

If you are trying to fit in, you are trying to assimilate. Imported from Latin, assimilate has the word similar within it and in fact, means "to become like something else." If someone moves to another country, he or she will need to assimilate by adapting to and taking in the language, culture and customs of the new place. You can also turn the phrase around to say that a country assimilates immigrants, which means that a place accepts immigrants and allows them to adapt easily. In scientific use, the body assimilates nutrients as a part of digestion.

Example Sentences

Olivia, who's now 24, says she was "muted" - straightening her hair and trying to assimilate with all the other girls.

From BBC • Nov. 26, 2023

In the past, at more general open mics around the city, Lovell has changed the pronouns of a lover from “him” to “her” in his poems in order to assimilate with a less queer-affirming audience.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 20, 2022

“It’s just really to come in and assimilate with the program.”

From Washington Times • Apr. 30, 2020

Tavares also worked to assimilate with a seemingly ever-changing cast of linemates and watched as close friends like Matt Moulson and Ryan Strome were traded by Garth Snow, the general manager from 2006 to 2018.

From New York Times • Feb. 28, 2019

But the sphere in which you move is too high for me; I cannot assimilate with it, and I return, not without gladness, to the humble sphere whence you took me.

From The Grandchildren of the Ghetto by Zangwill, Israel

Related Words

• comprehend
• grasp
• incorporate
• understand