adapt

verb

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\ 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 For starters, mix your usual choice with a less sweetened whole grain cereal until your taste buds adapt. — NBC News, "5 seemingly unhealthy foods that are actually good for you," 26 Nov. 2019 Some villages are working to adapt as more cellars - some stocked with tons of whale, walrus and other meats - turn up with pooling water and mold. — Author: Rachel D'oro, Anchorage Daily News, "Failing permafrost cellars signal change in Alaska whaling towns," 26 Nov. 2019 When patterns of light and darkness change, organisms must rapidly adapt or pay the price. — Christopher Preston, Smithsonian, "How Cities and Lights Drive the Evolution of Life," 26 Nov. 2019 This feature likely evolved as the group adapted to fill ecological niches as hypercarnivores — animals that eat only meat. — Fox News, "Weird Triassic 'dragons' had massive heads. Here's why.," 25 Nov. 2019 The role as adapted by Sorkin was formerly played by actor Jeff Daniels, earning him a Tony nomination. — CBS News, "Ed Harris, playing Atticus Finch, "didn't want to be influenced" by past "To Kill a Mockingbird" performances," 23 Nov. 2019 The film is set to be directed by Mudbound cinematographer Rachel Morrison and written by Moonlight’s Barry Jenkins, who won an Academy Award for best adapted screenplay. — Sydney Scott, Essence, "Ryan Destiny Delivers With Long-Awaited Video For 'The Same'," 22 Nov. 2019 The first part examines how the public and private health systems must adapt after being caught unprepared to deal with the challenges of this outbreak. — oregonlive, "Homeless with HIV: A place to heal becomes a matter of life or death," 17 Nov. 2019 Players who are ready to adapt to digital are going to win the retail battle. — Sangeeta Tanwar, Quartz India, "A 100-year-old British retail giant’s thumb rule for Indian firms: Adapt to the digital world," 12 Nov. 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.