as in to borrow
to take for one's own use (something originated by another)
shortly after moving to the U.S., the family dutifully adopted the American tradition of having turkey for Thanksgiving
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Recent Examples of adopt
The surplus is large enough, Democratic leaders said, to set aside funds to offset federal aid cuts; make a large payment to shrink pension debt; and adopt Lamont’s February plan to take $300 million from this year’s windfall to expand child care services.
—
Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2025
Detail shots showcase the gold and black livery of the fictional car that Pitt and Idris will pilot in F1 — one that any real team on the track wouldn’t hesitate to adopt.
—Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2025
The Future of Food Since the start of federal food regulation, states have beefed up their policies and the food industry has adopted its own standards.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 1 May 2025
The agency has adopted a system similar to the one used for flu vaccines, holding previously that updating only the strain targeted by the vaccine – and nothing else – didn’t represent a change big enough to require new human trials.
—Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for adopt
Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2025
Detail shots showcase the gold and black livery of the fictional car that Pitt and Idris will pilot in F1 — one that any real team on the track wouldn’t hesitate to adopt.
—Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2025
The Future of Food Since the start of federal food regulation, states have beefed up their policies and the food industry has adopted its own standards.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 1 May 2025
The agency has adopted a system similar to the one used for flu vaccines, holding previously that updating only the strain targeted by the vaccine – and nothing else – didn’t represent a change big enough to require new human trials.
—Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for adopt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adopt
Verb
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Treasury yields set the benchmark for borrowing costs across the economy, influencing everything from consumer mortgage rates to corporate bond pricing to financing the federal debt.—
Carrie McCabe,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
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The company also has introduced its five key colors for spring-summer 2027 that are said to borrow from tradition, culture and wisdom to relay a sense of being grounded and resilient.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Ellie is closer than ever to finding Abby, closer than ever to avenging Joel’s death, closer than ever to embracing the dark turn her love for him has taken.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
4 May 2025
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Differentiating, the final pillar, is about embracing what makes humans unique.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Adopt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adopt. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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