adapt

play

verb \ə-ˈdapt, a-\

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 09/27/2011. 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

Noah has adapted to that identity with his play and offseason work in the weight room.

— pat disabato, Daily Southtown, "Reavis senior Noah Wasielewski a force on offensive and defensive lines", 5 July 2017
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.

— ros krasny, Bloomberg.com, "Trump Ramps Up Media Feud With ‘CNN’ Twitter Wrestling Video", 2 July 2017
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.

— lynn horsley and diane stafford, kansascity.com, "Westport QuikTrip expansion plan moves forward amid half-hearted council reaction", 28 June 2017
Carruthers said, pointing to water quality and adapting the low-lying Keys to sea level rise.

— kevin wadlow, miamiherald, "Should Florida Keys highway get a toll? County agrees to study it", 25 June 2017
The simple head covering has been adapted and expanded to become a stylish part of Southern women’s churchgoing attire.

— Southern Living, "What are Church Hats?", 23 June 2017
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).

— priya rao, The Cut, "The Jet-setting Life of A Celebrity Makeup Artist Isn’t Always Glamorous", 22 June 2017
So while heat kills and temperatures are rising, people are adapting, though mostly in countries that can afford it.

— Washington Post, "Too hot to handle: Study shows Earth’s killer heat worsens", 19 June 2017
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.

— dan balz, Washington Post, "Rural America lifted Trump to the presidency. Support is strong, but not monolithic.", 17 June 2017

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

NEW!

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

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

play

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

play

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.