adjust

verb

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ad·just | \ ə-ˈjəst

adjusted; adjusting; adjusts

Definition of adjust

transitive verb

1a : to bring to a more satisfactory state:

(1) : settle, resolve ways of adjusting conflicts

(2) : rectify adjust an error

b : to make correspondent or conformable : adapt had to adjust our approach

c : to bring the parts of to a true or more effective relative position adjust a carburetor

2 : to reduce to a system : regulate

3 : to determine the amount to be paid under an insurance policy in settlement of (a loss)

intransitive verb

1 : to adapt or conform oneself (as to new conditions) adjust to the new regulations Our eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness.

2 : to achieve mental and behavioral balance between one's own needs and the demands of others

Other Words from adjust Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about adjust

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Choose the Right Synonym for adjust

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 adjust in a Sentence

The car is easier to drive since the clutch was adjusted. I adjusted the volume on the radio. She adjusted the car seat so she could reach the pedals. Going to a new school can be difficult, but the kids will eventually adjust. It's hard to adjust myself to the idea that she's gone. He makes less money now, when you adjust for inflation, than he did 10 years ago.

Recent Examples on the Web For example, Dell is offering a video-conferencing friendly monitor that is easy to adjust and swivel to get the optimum angle for video calls, complete with a high resolution webcam. — Mae Anderson, ajc, "5 CES Trends to Watch," 12 Jan. 2021 Other attendees at the performance who were not wearing their masks properly were told to adjust it and did so, avoiding a citation. — Liz Hardaway, ExpressNews.com, "Anti-maskers draw citations at San Antonio’s annual Alamo Bowl," 31 Dec. 2020 Even more worrisome is that even after schools had the summer to adjust and make sure students had computers and WiFi, online learning has continued to leave many behind. — Washington Post, "In 2020, we reached peak Internet. Here’s what worked — and what flopped.," 28 Dec. 2020 The good news is that the technology used in the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines is much easier to adjust and update than conventional vaccines. — Apoorva Mandavilli New York Times, Star Tribune, "The coronavirus is mutating. What does that mean for us?," 20 Dec. 2020 The teams that are able to adjust the best give themselves an opportunity to continue to play well. — Tim Bielik, cleveland, "Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots free live stream (12/20/20): How to watch, TV options, live updates, odds," 20 Dec. 2020 As the weather turns chilly, restaurants across North Texas are forced to adjust their strategies and make outdoor dining during a pandemic even more comfortable. — Pooja Krishna, Dallas News, "Restaurants warm up their patios for diners, hoping for a mild, dry winter," 7 Dec. 2020 However, the Cougars were able to adjust and the Wolverines ran out of gas. — Norma Gonzalez, The Salt Lake Tribune, "BYU men’s basketball team rallies past Utah Valley for 82-60 win," 29 Nov. 2020 As always, those with resources are better able to adjust. — Joshua Emerson Smith, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Distance learning with dad: A federal lifeline runs out," 29 Nov. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'adjust.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.