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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
From the M-W Editors
adapt was our Word of the Day on 09/27/2011. Hear the podcast!
Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP
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
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Noah has adapted to that identity with his play and offseason work in the weight room.
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The 28-second video, adapted from a 2007 World Wrestling Entertainment event that Trump participated in, showed him taking down a man with CNN’s logo superimposed over the man’s face.
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Attorney Patricia Jensen, representing QuikTrip, said the store has been in its current location for more than 30 years, but the area and QuikTrip have both changed a lot and the store must grow to adapt to changing times.
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Carruthers said, pointing to water quality and adapting the low-lying Keys to sea level rise.
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The simple head covering has been adapted and expanded to become a stylish part of Southern women’s churchgoing attire.
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Traveling that much can be exhausting, but being on the go has taught Bhatty how to adapt to any situation (like shooting in the rice fields of Bali for a Top Model shoot).
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So while heat kills and temperatures are rising, people are adapting, though mostly in countries that can afford it.
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On immigration, for example, 71 percent of rural Republicans say immigrants coming to the United States in the past decade are not doing enough to adapt to the American way of life, while just 29 percent of rural Democrats agree with that.
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
French or Latin; French adapter, from Latin adaptare, from ad- + aptare to fit, from aptus apt, fit
Synonym Discussion of adapt
ADAPT Defined for English Language Learners
adapt
playDefinition of adapt for English Language Learners
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: to change your behavior so that it is easier to live in a particular place or situation
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: to change (something) so that it functions better or is better suited for a purpose
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: to change (a movie, book, play, etc.) so that it can be presented in another form
ADAPT Defined for Kids
adapt
playDefinition 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.
Medical Dictionary
adapt
playMedical Definition of adapt
: to make fit (as for a specific or new use or situation) often by modification adapted himself to the new position
intransitive verb
: to become adapted : undergo adaptation
Learn More about adapt
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See words that rhyme with adapt Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for adapt Spanish Central: Translation of adapt Nglish: Translation of adapt for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of adapt for Arabic speakers
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