adjust

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verb ad·just \ə-ˈjəst\

Definition of adjust

transitive verb
1a : to bring to a more satisfactory state: (1) : settle, resolve ways of adjusting conflicts (2) : rectify adjust an errorb : to make correspondent or conformable : adapt had to adjust our approachc : 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

adjustability

play \-ˌjəs-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

adjustable

play \-ˈjəs-tə-bəl\ adjective

adjustive

play \-ˈjəs-tiv\ adjective

See adjust defined for English-language learners

See adjust defined for kids

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 of adjust from the Web

So, what Walsh did was take the system, the verbiage, the semantics of it and adjust it to very quick passes.

— jim owczarski, Cincinnati.com, "Bengals 50: Bill Walsh, a Bengals innovator who won titles elsewhere", 5 July 2017
Those are both decreases under projections of current law, and the spending is also a real decrease in funding when adjusted for medical inflation.

— vann r. newkirk ii, The Atlantic, "The Senate's Plan Makes Medicaid a Time Bomb", 3 July 2017
To move things along and adjust a norm where imperfections are way under-celebrated, Ashley directed a lingerie shoot for Glamour wearing nothing besides her bra and underwear.

— elizabeth narins, Cosmopolitan, "Why Ashley Graham Cried Directing a Lingerie Shoot", 21 June 2017
Useful ones, too, like a reading mode that automatically filters out blue light and adjusts the screen properties to make the AMOLED display look and feel more like a Kindle screen.

— david pierce, WIRED, "Review: OnePlus 5", 20 June 2017
If audience polling is consistently under-counting minorities, that biased data can have a ripple effect, causing studios to adjust their marketing budgets and theater counts downward, and leave money on the table.

— vanityfair.com, "Why Hollywood Still Underestimates Black Films", 19 June 2017
If audience polling is consistently under-counting minorities, that biased data can have a ripple effect, causing studios to adjust their marketing budgets and theater counts downward, and leave money on the table.

— rebecca keegan, HWD, "Why Hollywood Still Underestimates Black Films", 19 June 2017
People’s ability to adjust to altitude varies greatly.

— jenn fields, The Know, "Colorado fourteeners: seriously everything you need to know before you go", 16 June 2017
After making some exterior building design adjustments in response to criticism, Opus representatives repeatedly said in previous public meetings that their plan wouldn’t be adjusted further or made smaller.

— diane stafford, kansascity, "Big apartment development approved for Westport Road and Broadway", 15 June 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of adjust

Middle English ajusten, from Old French ajuster to make conform, from a- (from Latin ad-) + juste right, exact — more at just

NEW!

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of 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. 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

ADJUST Defined for English Language Learners

adjust

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verb

Definition of adjust for English Language Learners

: to change (something) in a minor way so that it works better
: to change the position of (something)
: to change in order to work or do better in a new situation

ADJUST Defined for Kids

adjust

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verb ad·just \ə-ˈjəst\

Definition of adjust for Students

adjusted

;

adjusting

1 : to change (something) in a minor way to make it work better
2 : to change the position of (something) He adjusted his glasses.
3 : to become used to He adjusted to a new school.

Medical Dictionary

adjust

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verb ad·just \ə-ˈjəst\

Medical Definition of adjust

: to bring about orientation or adaptation of (oneself)
1
intransitive verb

: to adapt oneself (as to climate, food, or new working hours)

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

adjustability

\-ˌjəs-tə-ˈbil-ət-ē\play noun plural

adjustabilities

adjustable

\-ˈjəs-tə-bəl\play adjective

adjustive

\-ˈjəs-tiv\play adjective

Law Dictionary

adjust

transitive verb ad·just

Legal Definition of adjust

1a : to determine the amount to be paid under an insurance policy in settlement of (a loss) b : to make new arrangements with creditors for the payment of (the debts of a debtor in bankruptcy)
2 : to calculate in accordance with a system adjusting the basis