ENGLISH
REFERENCE

adapt

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //əˈdæpt// UK //ɐdˈæpt// adapt Academic General-service

v. to change your behavior or your ideas so that you can deal with a new situation. You can also use it when you change a book or a story so it can be made into a movie.

v. to adjust to new conditions or environments; to modify a text for a different medium. Transitive when referring to modifications; intransitive when describing a person's adjustment to circumstances.


SIMPLE

It takes time to adapt to a new job.

CONTEXTUAL

The local wildlife had to adapt quickly when the forest was cleared for a new housing development.

COMPLEX

Successful businesses are those that can adapt their strategies to meet shifting consumer demands without losing their core identity in the process.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English *adapten (attested in Middle English adapted (past participle)), from Latin adaptāre (“to fit to”), from ad- (“to”) + aptāre (“to make fit”), from aptus (“fit”); see apt.

Usage

Takes the preposition 'to' when describing adjustment. When used for media, it is transitive and takes a direct object.

Pitfall

he adapted at the new climatehe adapted to the new climateThe verb requires the preposition 'to' when describing the process of adjusting to a situation or environment.

© 2026 English Reference