adopt

verb

ə-ˈdäpt 

adopted; adopting; adopts

transitive verb

1

: to take (someone or something) by choice into a relationship

They adopted Canada as their home.

: such as

a

: to take (a child born to other parents) voluntarily as one's own child especially in compliance with formal legal procedures

Many young couples … are experiencing infertility problems, and as a result, some are looking to adopt a child.

—Sonia Krohn

b

: to acquire (an animal) as a pet especially from an animal shelter

The family adopted a dog.

2

: to begin to practice or use (something, such as an approach or manner)

people who adopt a healthy lifestyle

He adopted a moderate tone.

Over the past year, I've adopted the habit of buying clothes and home goods only from ethical brands.

—Sunny Montgomery

Adopted from France, the widespread Victorian custom of leaving visiting cards led to the production of many types of card cases.

—William C. Ketchum, Jr.

The big three airlines have adopted different strategies in response to the pandemic.

—Ted Reed

Barnard explained that it was only in 1974 that the group adopted the name ABBA.

—Faith Qinga

3

: to accept and establish (something, such as a law or policy) in a formal or official way

adopt a constitutional amendment

adopted new safety measures

By then almost every state had adopted an animal anti-cruelty law.

—Mindy Norton

4

: to choose (educational materials) for required study in a course

The board is responsible for setting curriculum standards and adopting textbooks and other instructional materials for public schools.

—DallasNews.com

5

: to sponsor the care and maintenance of (something, such as a section of public road)

Rock Bridge [Community Church] has adopted part of Curtis Highway, while Northwest Georgia National has taken on part of Belwood Road.

—Cat Webb

6

: to take (a word from another language) into common use : borrow

English adopted the word "patio" from Spanish. = The English word "patio" was adopted from Spanish.

intransitive verb

: to adopt a child or animal

people who choose to adopt

adoptability

ə-ˌdäp-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

determine a pet's adoptability

adoptable

ə-ˈdäp-tə-bəl 

adjective

a list of adoptable cats

adopter noun

plural adopters

an early adopter of new technology

… living rooms are great places for potential adopters to evaluate a dog …

—Dog Watch

Synonyms

• borrow
• embrace
• espouse
• take on
• take up

Choose the Right Synonym for adopt

adopt, embrace, espouse mean to take an opinion, policy, or practice as one's own.

adopt implies accepting something created by another or foreign to one's nature.

forced to adopt new policies

embrace implies a ready or happy acceptance.

embraced the customs of their new homeland

espouse adds an implication of close attachment to a cause and a sharing of its fortunes.

espoused the cause of women's rights

Examples of adopt in a Sentence

They were unable to have children of their own, so they decided to adopt.

They decided to adopt a child.

He was adopted as an infant.

Did he adopt your point of view?

We adopted some of the local customs.

The author Samuel Clemens adopted the name “Mark Twain.”

He was born in England but he has adopted Canada as his home.

The assembly adopted a new constitution.

The resolution was unanimously adopted by the Senate.

Recent Examples on the Web

The term smart city, which first began to appear in the 1990s, is used to describe an urban area that adopts innovative digital technologies, data, sensors, and connectivity to improve a community’s livability, workability, and sustainability. —Dr. Jonathan Reichental, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025

At the heart of the conference is the push to ratify the High Seas Treaty, adopted in 2023. —Annika Hammerschlag, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025

Sung for over 30 years by City fans, folklore says it was first adopted in ironic fashion. —Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 7 June 2025

On May 15, the board officially adopted a resolution quashing the proposal. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English adopten, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French adopter, borrowed from Latin adoptāre, from ad- ad- + optāre "to express a wish for, desire, choose, decide on" — more at option entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for adopt

• estopped
• chopped
• cropped
• dropped
• dropt
• flopped
• hopped
• lopped
• mopped
• opt
• plopped
• popped

Kids Definition

adopt

verb

ə-ˈdäpt 

1

: to take legally as one's own child

adopted a baby girl

2

: to take as one's own

adopt a point of view

3

: to accept formally

the assembly adopted a constitution

adoptable

ə-ˈdäp-tə-bəl 

adjective

adopter noun

Legal Definition

adopt

transitive verb

ə-ˈdäpt 

1

: to take voluntarily (a child of other parents) as one's own child especially in compliance with formal legal procedures see also equitable adoption

2

: to take or accept as if one's own

[the company] adopted the signature on the financing statement

—Barber-Greene Co. v. Nat'l City Bank of Minneapolis, 816 F.2d 1267 (1987)

3

: to accept formally and put into effect

adopt a constitutional amendment

adoptable

ə-ˈdäp-tə-bəl 

adjective

adoptability

ə-ˌdäp-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē

adverb

adoption

ə-ˈdäp-shən 

noun