Word
adaptation
Phoneticsadap·ta·tion
US/ˌædəpˈteɪʃən/
UK/ɐdɐptˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
01adjustment to a situation
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the process of changing your behavior or ideas to fit a new situation or environment.
n. the process of modifying behavior, physiology, or systems to suit new conditions or a changed environment.
“The adaptation to a new school can be difficult for many children at first.”
“Successful adaptation to the corporate culture required the new recruits to modify their communication styles significantly.”
Synonyms
02biological change
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Science
n. a change in a plant or animal that helps it survive in its environment.
n. a heritable trait or process that increases an organism's fitness and survival within its specific habitat.
Español:adaptación
“The camel's hump is an adaptation that helps it survive in the desert.”
“The thick fur of the polar bear is a primary biological adaptation to the extreme cold of the Arctic circle.”
Synonyms
03book to film
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a movie, play, or television show that is based on a book.
n. a creative work rewritten or reworked from one medium into another, such as a novel becoming a screenplay.
“The film adaptation of the novel was even better than the book.”
“Critics praised the television adaptation for its faithful rendering of the author's complex narrative structure.”
Synonyms
04societal survival
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Science Academic
n. the way a group of people changes its lifestyle to survive in a specific place.
n. the mechanisms by which social groups adjust to their physical and social environments to ensure survival and stability.
“The community showed great adaptation by finding new ways to farm during the long drought.”
“Sociologists study the cultural adaptation of migrant populations as they integrate into urban environments.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “adaptation” in context.
Verb
01. require adaptation
“Moving to a new country will require adaptation to different social norms and customs.”
verb + noun
02. undergo adaptation
“The software must undergo adaptation to ensure it is compatible with the new operating system.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. faithful adaptation
“The director's latest project is a faithful adaptation of the classic novel, staying true to every plot point.”
adj + noun
04. loose adaptation
“The film is a loose adaptation of the biography, taking significant creative liberties with the timeline.”
adj + noun
05. successful adaptation
“The species' survival depends on its successful adaptation to the changing climate.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. film adaptation
“The film adaptation of the stage play received critical acclaim at the festival.”
noun + noun
07. process of adaptation
“The process of adaptation to the high altitude took several weeks for the hikers.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
08. in adaptation
“Many nuances of the original text were lost in adaptation when it was turned into a screenplay.”
prep + noun
Confusables
Adaptation is the process of changing something to fit a new purpose, while adoption is the act of taking something over exactly as it is.
RememberAdapt = Adjust. Adopt = Accept.
Real-World Examples
“Adaptation such as designing housing so it is more resilient to hotter temperatures and installing air conditioning has not always had the same focus.” “According to a freedom of information request submitted by the writer and campaigner Guy Shrubsole , just 20 staff are working on climate adaptation within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.” “Painful self-awareness … Olivia Colman (Leda) in the film adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s The Lost Daughter.” Etymology
From French adaptation, from Medieval Latin adaptātiō, from Latin adaptō (“I fit, adjust, modify; I adapt, fit or adjust to”); see adapt. Equivalent to adapt + -ation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
The word in film
Poster shown under fair use for identification and commentary.
Adaptation · 2002 · Comedy
- Directed by:
- Spike Jonze
- Starring:
- Gregory Itzin, Brian Cox, Nicolas Cage
Spike Jonze's 2002 comedy stars Nicolas Cage as a screenwriter who struggles to turn a book into a film. The title names the process of changing a book into a movie.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/adaptation
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0