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adjust

v.
US //əˈdʒəst// UK //ɐdʒˈʌst// ad·just
  1. 1 to change slightly (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to change something a little bit so that it fits better or works correctly.

    to alter or move something slightly in order to achieve a desired fit, appearance, or result. Transitive — requires a direct object.

    Example

    He had to adjust his tie in the mirror before the interview started.

    Example

    The technician had to adjust the lens focus several times before the image on the screen became sharp enough for the presentation.
  2. 2 to get used to something (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to change your behaviour or thinking so you can deal with a new situation.

    to adapt oneself to new conditions or a different environment. Often used with the preposition 'to'.

    Example

    It took her a few months to adjust to living in a big city.

    Example

    International students often find it challenging to adjust to the different academic expectations of a foreign university system during their first semester.
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  1. 3 to change data or prices (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    to change a number or a price so that it is fair or accurate.

    to regulate or systematise a value, often to account for external factors like inflation or errors.

    Example

    The company will adjust its prices next year to cover the higher cost of electricity.

    Example

    Economists must adjust the raw data for seasonal variations to provide a more accurate picture of the country's employment trends.
    • recalculate
    • revalue
  2. 4 insurance claims (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Formal Law

    to decide how much money an insurance company should pay for a claim.

    to determine the amount to be paid in the settlement of an insurance claim. Used in a professional legal or financial context.

    Example

    The agent arrived to adjust the claim after the storm damaged the roof.

    Example

    The firm was hired to adjust the complex liability claims resulting from the industrial accident at the chemical plant.
Origin

From Middle English ajusten, borrowed from Middle French adjuster, or Old French, from Latin ad (“to, up to, towards”) + iustus (“correct, proper, exact”); Equivalent to ad- + just. Probably influenced in sense by Old French ajouster (cf. modern ajouter), from Vulgar Latin *adiuxtāre, from Latin iuxta. The Middle English originally meant "to correct, remedy" in the late 14th century, and was reborrowed from Middle French in the early 17th century. According to another view on the etymology, the word was actually derived from Old French ajouster and then supposedly later influenced by folk etymology from Latin iustus; if so, it is a doublet of adjute.

Word family

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