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- pronunciation:
dapt
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb), Note, Word History, Word Builder, Word Explorer, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
adopts, adopting, adopted |
| definition 1: |
to take on as one's own (a manner, style, or point of view).
To disguise his hurt feelings, he adopted an air of indifference.Older children tend to adopt the manners of their peer group.- synonyms:
- appropriate, assume
- antonyms:
- discard, reject, repudiate
- similar words:
- accept, acquire, affect, arrogate, borrow, embrace, espouse, strike, take, wear
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| definition 2: |
to become by law a parent of (a child who is not one's own offspring), or to accept responsibility for an animal as a pet.
They decided to adopt a child rather than having more of their own.We adopted a dog at the animal shelter.
- similar words:
- father, foster, mother, parent
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| definition 3: |
to accept by voting for.
Congress adopted the legislation in its last session.- synonyms:
- approve, enact, pass
- antonyms:
- revoke
- similar words:
- back, endorse, ratify, sanction, vote for
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| related words: |
affiliate, buy, choose, follow, pass, receive |
adverb + (v.)adopt
formally, legally, newly, officially, readily, subsequently, unanimously, voluntarily, widely
(v.)adopt
+ adverb
formally, legally, officially, overseas, readily, unanimously, voluntarily, widely
(v.)adopt
+ noun
amendment,
approach,
attitude,
baby,
charter,
child,
code,
constitution,
criteria,
currency,
curriculum,
custom,
declaration,
definition,
doctrine,
emission,
format,
formula,
framework,
guideline,
habit,
ideology,
infant,
innovation,
legislation,
lifestyle,
measure,
method,
methodology,
model,
norm,
ordinance,
orientation,
orphan,
orphanage,
paradigm,
persona,
perspective,
pet,
philosophy,
plan,
platform,
policy,
posture,
practice,
principle,
procedure,
proposal,
protocol,
quota,
recommendation,
reform,
resolution,
rhetoric,
rule,
slogan,
stance,
standard,
statute,
strategy,
style,
tactic,
technique,
technology,
tone
[See all][See only the most frequent]
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| derivations: |
adoptable (adj.), adopter (n.) |
adopt or adapt?
Adopt means to accept a new thing as your own. Adapt means to make changes because of a new purpose or situation. Compare: - We adopted a puppy from the animal shelter.
- The puppy soon adapted to its new home.
The English word adopt is from a Latin word adoptare that means "to choose for oneself" or "to choose as one's own." If you take away the prefix ad- from adoptare, the word optare is left. Optare means "to choose freely." Other English words that come from optare include "option" (a choice) and "opt" (choose).
The word adopt
contains the following parts:
ad-
Latin
prefix
that means to, toward
  More about this word part:
Originally a Latin preposition and prefix, ad-
occurs in English in Latin loanwords. It has multiple forms, as the final 'd' sound in ad-
assimilates to the initial sound of the base to which it is attached. See its assimilated forms: ac-, af-, ag-1, al-, an-, ap-, ar-, as-, and at-.
Example words:
adapt, add, addict, addiction, adduce, adequate, adhere, adherent, adit, adjacent, adjective, adjunct, adjure, adjust, administer, administrative, administrator, admissible, admission, admit, admonition, adopt, adoption, advent, adverb, adversary, adverse, adversity, advert, advertent, advertise, advocate, inadvertent
opt2
Latin
root
that means choose
Example words:
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