adapt

adapt

verb \ə-ˈdapt, a-\

Definition of ADAPT

transitive verb

: to make fit (as for a new use) often by modification

intransitive verb

: to become adapted

— adapt·ed·ness noun

Examples of ADAPT

1. When children go to a different school, it usually takes them a while to adapt.
2. She has adapted herself to college life quite easily.
3. The camera has been adapted for underwater use.
4. The clock was adapted to run on batteries.
5. The movie was adapted from the book of the same title.
6. adapting the movie for television

Origin of ADAPT

French or Latin; French adapter, from Latin adaptare, from ad- + aptare to fit, from aptus apt, fit

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to ADAPT

Synonyms: acclimate, acclimatize, accommodate, adjust, condition, conform, doctor, edit, fashion, fit, put, shape, suit, tailor

Related Words: readapt, readjust; customize, gear, match, model, pattern; attune, correct, harmonize, square, tune; establish, root, settle; acquaint, familiarize, orient, orientate; equip, prepare, prime, rehearse; harden, inure, season, toughen; alter, convert, make over, modify, recast, reclaim, recycle, redesign, redevelop, redo, reengineer, refashion, refigure, refit, refocus, reinvent, rejigger, remake, remodel, revamp, revise, rework, transform; accustom, condition, habilitate, habituate, naturalize; ready, season; bend; fiddle (with), fine-tune, phase, register, regulate, rig

Near Antonyms: misadjust

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Synonym Discussion of ADAPT

adapt, adjust, accommodate, conform, reconcile mean to bring one thing into correspondence with another. adapt implies a modification according to changing circumstances <adapted themselves to the warmer climate>. adjust suggests bringing into a close and exact correspondence or harmony such as exists between parts of a mechanism <adjusted the budget to allow for inflation>. accommodate may suggest yielding or compromising to effect a correspondence <accommodated his political beliefs in order to win>. conform applies to bringing into accordance with a pattern, example, or principle <refused to conform to society's values>. reconcile implies the demonstration of the underlying compatibility of things that seem to be incompatible <tried to reconcile what he said with what I knew>.

Rhymes with ADAPT

black-capped, coapt, dewlapped, enrapt, inapt, snowcapped, unapt, untapped