adapt

verb \ ə-ˈdapt , a- \

Updated on: 21 Apr 2018

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

See adapt defined for English-language learners

See adapt defined for kids

adapt was our Word of the Day on 01/16/2018. Hear the podcast!

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 of adapt from the Web

Today’s dish, adapted from skinnytaste.com, is a nice recipe for this transitional season.

— anna thomas bates, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Slow-cooker chicken thigh dish is ideal for spring," 18 Apr. 2018
Even in real life, sunglasses can adapt to the intensity of sunlight.

— jaclyn gallucci, Fortune, "Airports Are Using ‘Smart Glass’ to Make You Spend More Money," 17 Apr. 2018
Poachers are moving to new areas and traffickers are adapting, aided by entrenched corruption.

— Fox News, "Battle to save Africa's elephants is gaining some ground," 13 Apr. 2018
Lean on Pete, adapted from a novel by Willy Vlautin, turns on the extraordinary connection between Pete and the silent Charley—who, in his emotional outlook, often seems more equine than human.

— j.r. jones, Chicago Reader, "Lean on Pete tells the story of a horse and a teenager who feels like one," 12 Apr. 2018
Ayesha Curry’s Grilled Cheese With Rosemary Butter Makes 2 sandwiches This recipe, adapted from Ayesha Curry, is a simple yet elegant take on the straightforward classic grilled cheese.

— sarah fritsche, San Francisco Chronicle, "Recipe: Ayesha Curry’s Grilled Cheese With Rosemary Butter," 12 Apr. 2018
These ancient, resilient plants are adapting to our presence, and using us to proliferate.

— patrick sisson, Curbed, "Why cactuses and succulents are the perfect plants for this cultural moment," 4 Apr. 2018
The theatrical production, directed by Kamilah Forbes and adapted from the book by Lauren A. Whitehead and Talvin Wilks, blended words, music and visual imagery, from pictures of Malcolm X to streaks of rain on glass.

— Washington Post, "Apollo crowd cheers for Coates’ ‘Between the World and Me’," 3 Apr. 2018
The film, which won an Oscar earlier this month for best adapted screenplay, was withdrawn from the April festival, Sony Pictures Entertainment confirmed, declining to comment on the reason.

— john paul brammer /, NBC News, "Chinese film festival pulls Oscar-winning gay film amid content squeeze," 27 Mar. 2018

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.

Did You Know?

Rooted in the origins of "adapt" is the idea of becoming specifically "fit" for something. English speakers adapted "adapt" in the 15th century from the French adapter, which itself traces to the Latin forms aptare, meaning "to fit," and aptus, meaning "fit" or "apt." Other descendants of "aptus" in English include "aptitude," "inept," and of course "apt" itself, as well as "unapt" and "inapt."

Origin and Etymology of 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 ¹apt

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

adapt Synonyms

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

ADAPT Defined for English Language Learners

adapt

verb

Definition of adapt for English Language Learners

: to change your behavior so that it is easier to live in a particular place or situation
: to change (something) so that it functions better or is better suited for a purpose
: to change (a movie, book, play, etc.) so that it can be presented in another form

ADAPT Defined for Kids

adapt

verb \ ə-ˈdapt \

Definition of adapt for Students

adapted; adapting

1 : to change behavior so that it is easier to function in a particular place or situation

He easily adapted to high school.

2 : to make or become suitable or able to function

The camera was adapted for underwater use.

Word Root of adapt

The Latin word aptus, meaning “fit” or “suitable,” gives us the root apt or ept. Words from the Latin aptus have something to do with being fitting or suitable. Something apt fits just right into a situation. To adapt is to change in order to fit a situation better. Someone who is adept has suitable skills to perform a task well, while someone who is inept does not.