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

State Medicaid programs have a parallel, voluntary pathway to adopt similar pricing under a model known as BALANCE. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026

The Angine de Poitrine story really takes flight in the Canadian province of Quebec — which, apparently, is the place these space aliens choose to adopt as their home-away-from-home planet about seven years ago. — Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026

However, adopting a new vision of American science around increasing privatization dedicated to the development of specific technologies will only drive a wedge further between researchers and communities. — Brendon Davis, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026

Scotland’s public water utility has recently become the first in the world to adopt a new technology that can convert contaminated laboratory plastics into material suitable for recycling. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026