adapt

verb

\ ə-ˈdapt

, a-\

adapted; adapting; adapts

Definition of adapt

transitive verb

: to make fit (as for a new use) often by modification adapt the curriculum to students' needs

intransitive verb

: to become adapted adapt to a new enviroment

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about adapt

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Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of adapt in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

His second novel, The Hotel Neversink, from which this story is adapted, will be published in August. — Adam O’fallon Price, Harper's magazine, "The Maid’s Story," 10 June 2019 Then, structure talks about emergency moves, like storing drinking water and untying livestock, using a sorting game adapted from one by the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre. — Laura Pappano, New York Times, "From Albania to Singapore, U.S. Students Look for Tailored Experiences Abroad," 7 June 2019 By 1999, moviegoers looking for something adapted from sequential art had their choice of exactly one film: Mystery Men, an ensemble comedy with a peripheral connection to an oddity called Flaming Carrot Comics. — Peter Rubin, WIRED, "Goodbye X-Men—You Flawed, Frustrating Cinematic Revolution," 7 June 2019 Her first stateside award (a Golden Globe) was for another British import, The Night Manager, adapted from the novel by John le Carré—but Colman truly began to seep into the pop culture consciousness with her role in The Favourite. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Olivia Colman Is the Latest British Star to Make it Stateside," 3 Jan. 2019 Few actresses have crafted such a challenging, debasing vehicle for themselves as this indie feature adapted from her play. — Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Eat Me': Film Review," 5 July 2018 Daniels had to expose Finch’s moral flaws, rather than imitate the valiant figure Gregory Peck played in the 1962 movie version of Harper Lee’s novel (published two years before it was adapted to film). — Myles Tanzer, WSJ, "How Jeff Daniels Mastered the Role of Atticus Finch," 13 May 2019 Twenty-two of them have been adapted for television, and two of those adaptations have received Golden Globe nominations. — Samantha Leach, Glamour, "How The Hell Has Danielle Steel Managed to Write 179 Books?," 9 May 2019 But in March, three investors in the company—Legion Partners Asset Management LLC, Macellum Advisors GP LLC and Ancora Advisors LLC—called for his ouster, claiming the company failed to adapt its business model as consumers... — Micah Maidenberg, WSJ, "Bed Bath & Beyond Chief Executive Steps Down," 13 May 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'adapt.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for adapt

Middle English adapted (as translation of Latin adaptātus), borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French adapter, borrowed from Latin adaptāre, from ad- ad- + aptāre "to put into position, bring to bear, make ready," verbal derivative of aptus "fastened, prepared, suitable" — more at apt entry 1