adapt

verb

adapted; adapting; adapts

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 environment

Did you know?

"Nothing in this world is as reliable as change" is a common aphorism and one we can certainly attest to as lexicographers. English speakers adapted adapt, for example, in the 15th century from the Middle French adapter, which was itself an adaptation of Latin adaptāre. That source traces back to Latin aptus, meaning "fit" or "apt." Other adaptations of aptus in English include aptitude, inept, and of course apt itself, as well as unapt and inapt.

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.

businesses accommodating themselves to the new political reality

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 Extremes are a natural part of a forest’s life history, and trees typically adapt to them—but this time is different. Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024 Eight years later it was adapted to a classic movie starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. David Morgan, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2024 Although the data was collected in Yuma, the app uses a model and live weather data that adapts to a wide variety of regions and planting dates. The Arizona Republic, 15 Mar. 2024 The headaches - some resembling migraines and others resembling tension headaches - occurred not only during the first couple of weeks in space as the body goes through the process of adapting to microgravity, but also later. Fox News, 15 Mar. 2024 Directed by three-time Tony winner George C. Wolfe and adapted from the Wilson play by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom follows a dramatic recording session over the course of one eventful day in 1920s Chicago. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 15 Mar. 2024 Sam Strauss is adapting the novel and will executive produce the series. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024 This is the third recent TV show adapted from a Moriarty novel, following Big Little Lies and Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2024 Some questions may be adapted into full columns, and transcripts of the chats remain available after each session concludes. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'adapt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of adapt was in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near adapt

Cite this Entry

“Adapt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adapt. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

adapt

verb
: to make or become suitable
especially : to change so as to fit a new or specific use or situation
adapt to life in a new school
adapt the novel for children
adaptability
-ˌdap-tə-ˈbil-ət-ē
noun
adaptable
-ˈdap-tə-bəl
adjective
Etymology

from French adapter and Latin adaptare, both meaning "to adapt," from Latin ad- "to" and aptus "apt, fit" — related to apt

Medical Definition

adapt

transitive verb
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on adapt

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