adopt
uh-DOPT
Adopt (verb) means to legally take a child into your family as your own. Example: “After years of waiting, the couple were allowed to adopt a toddler.”
verb
1
To legally take a child into your family as your own.
"After years of waiting, the couple were allowed to adopt a toddler."
"They adopted a baby girl from overseas."
"He was adopted as an infant and met his birth parents years later."
2
To take a pet or cause under your care, or to start using an idea, method, or practice.
"Several schools have decided to adopt a stricter approach to homework."
"We adopted a rescue dog from the local shelter."
"The company adopted a new policy on remote work."
How to use adopt
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo take something in and make it your own, whether that's a child, a pet, or a new idea.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
adopt a child
adopt a pet
adopt a policy
adopt a practice
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- adopts
- Past tense
- adopted
- Archaic forms
- adoptest, adoptedst, adopteth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
After years of waiting, the couple were allowed to _____ a toddler.
Etymology
From Latin adoptare, from ad- ("toward") + optare ("to choose") — the same root as "option."
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “adopt” mean?
The word “adopt” means to legally take a child into your family as your own. In plain terms, to take something in and make it your own, whether that's a child, a pet, or a new idea.
How do you pronounce “adopt”?
“Adopt” is pronounced uh-DOPT (/əˈdɑpt/ in IPA).
How do you use “adopt” in a sentence?
Here is “adopt” used in a sentence: “They adopted a baby girl from overseas.”
What part of speech is “adopt”?
“Adopt” is a verb.
Where does the word “adopt” come from?
The word “adopt” comes from Latin. From Latin adoptare, from ad- ("toward") + optare ("to choose") — the same root as "option.".
Is “adopt” a common word?
“Adopt” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “adopt” have?
“Adopt” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to legally take a child into your family as your own.
What is the difference between adopt and adapt?
To adopt something is to take it on or start using it, such as adopting a child, a pet, or a new method. To adapt is to change or adjust something to suit new conditions. The two are often confused because they sound alike but have distinct meanings.
What is the difference between adopting a child and fostering one?
To adopt a child is to legally take that child into your family as your own, which is a permanent arrangement. Fostering is temporary care without transferring full legal parenthood, so the key difference is permanence and legal status.
Can you adopt an idea or a method, not just a child or pet?
Yes. Besides legally taking a child into your family or taking a pet into your care, adopt also means to start using an idea, method, or practice. For example, a company might adopt a new policy or a person might adopt a healthier routine.
What prepositions are used with adopt?
Adopt is usually followed directly by its object, as in adopt a child or adopt a plan. The phrase "adopt as" is common when giving something a new status, such as adopt a resolution as policy, while "adopt from" can indicate the source, as in adopt a dog from a shelter.
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