as in borrows
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 adopts
District officials — typically Carvalho — have acknowledged a multibillion-dollar reserve but have insisted that ongoing commitments and declining revenue are on track to exhaust those reserves in about three years, unless the district adopts austerity measures.
—
Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
The men who are in the legislature’s top leadership positions maul the budget the committee chaired by two diligent women adopts after weeks of hearings and deliberations.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 14 Mar. 2026
As the senior housing sector adopts artificial intelligence, certain names will rise above the rest, according to Jefferies.
—Michelle Fox, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
For at least the last decade, the district has conducted a socioeconomic analysis before the board adopts or changes a regulation, as required under state law.
—Jennifer Gollan, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Mar. 2026
If the Aurora City Council adopts the commission’s recommendation, data centers would only be allowed in general industrial zones, not in limited industrial zones or in office, research and light industry districts.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
Her decision to team up with Hayley, an assistant at Tender, in the scheme to secretly videotape johns as future blackmail material, after it had been done to her and Henry, is another instance in which Yasmin adopts the tools used to hurt her to injure others.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
In 2014, political scientists Martin Gilens and Benjamin Page observed that the public has little influence over the policies our government adopts as policymaking is dominated by powerful business organizations and a small number of affluent Americans.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2026
Senate Bill 1 not only adopts the most stringent allowable aspects of the new federal law, known as HR 1.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 26 Feb. 2026
Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
The men who are in the legislature’s top leadership positions maul the budget the committee chaired by two diligent women adopts after weeks of hearings and deliberations.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 14 Mar. 2026
As the senior housing sector adopts artificial intelligence, certain names will rise above the rest, according to Jefferies.
—Michelle Fox, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
For at least the last decade, the district has conducted a socioeconomic analysis before the board adopts or changes a regulation, as required under state law.
—Jennifer Gollan, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Mar. 2026
If the Aurora City Council adopts the commission’s recommendation, data centers would only be allowed in general industrial zones, not in limited industrial zones or in office, research and light industry districts.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
Her decision to team up with Hayley, an assistant at Tender, in the scheme to secretly videotape johns as future blackmail material, after it had been done to her and Henry, is another instance in which Yasmin adopts the tools used to hurt her to injure others.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
In 2014, political scientists Martin Gilens and Benjamin Page observed that the public has little influence over the policies our government adopts as policymaking is dominated by powerful business organizations and a small number of affluent Americans.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2026
Senate Bill 1 not only adopts the most stringent allowable aspects of the new federal law, known as HR 1.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 26 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adopts
Verb
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While the traditional pageboy bob is a bit shorter (usually skimming the jaw, à la Hadid’s recent chop), Margot Robbie’s version borrows its unstructured shape and soft layering.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
9 Mar. 2026
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What is the truth, what is the lie, and how photography historically borrows the sense of truth and reality in order to tell lies, in order to seduce people to do things.—
Caterina De Biasio,
Vogue,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Regent embraces solo travelers with savings on select sailings.—
Susan B. Barnes,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
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Backyard beauty This Studio William Hefner kitchen embraces the natural landscape surrounding it.—
Megan Johnson,
Architectural Digest,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adopts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adopts. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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