Synonyms of adopt

adopt

verb

ə-ˈdäpt 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• borrow
• embrace
• cultivate
• assimilate
• take up
• follow
• take on
• espouse
• incorporate
• utilize
• use
• imitate
• pick up on
• copy
• appropriate
• absorb
• usurp
• foster
• domesticate
• take over
• honor
• raise
• cherish
• heed
• naturalize
• affect
• simulate
• quote
• treasure
• nurture
• pretend
• arrogate
• assume
• prize
• put on
• bring up
• rear

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• abandon
• relinquish
• surrender
• forsake
• give up
• reject
• renounce
• disown
• abjure
• repudiate
• spurn
• discard
• jettison
• throw away
• throw out
• abnegate
• junk

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb adopt differ from other similar words?

The words embrace and espouse are common synonyms of adopt. While all three words 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

In what contexts can embrace take the place of adopt?

Although the words embrace and adopt have much in common, embrace implies a ready or happy acceptance.

embraced the customs of their new homeland

When might espouse be a better fit than adopt?

While in some cases nearly identical to adopt, espouse adds an implication of close attachment to a cause and a sharing of its fortunes.

espoused the cause of women's rights

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of adopt

Siniscalchi hopes other scientists will adopt the scoring system to help standardize and accelerate research on pawedness in dogs. —Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 10 June 2026

Weeks of debate and negotiation culminated Tuesday with the San Diego City Council adopting a compromise budget that includes last-minute moves to boost flood prevention and partially restore hours at libraries and rec centers. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 2026

But the process was prone to errors and was not widely adopted by merchants due to the fee that OpenAI was charging merchants. —ABC News, 10 June 2026

Under Law 4 of the International Football Association Board, covering what players are allowed to wear during a match and adopted by FIFA, historical symbols or references could be prohibited if FIFA determines they could be interpreted as political. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 10 June 2026