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adopt

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //əˈdɑpt// UK //ɐdˈɒpt// adopt General-service Informal Slang

v. to legally take someone else's child into your family and treat them as your own. It can also mean starting to use a new idea, method, or style.

v. to legally take another's child and bring it up as one's own; alternatively, to formally accept or start to use a specific idea, policy, or method. Transitive — requires a direct object.


SIMPLE

They decided to adopt a child from a local agency.

CONTEXTUAL

The school board voted to adopt a new curriculum that focuses more on digital literacy and coding.

COMPLEX

While the artist initially resisted digital tools, she eventually chose to adopt a minimalist aesthetic that combined traditional ink sketches with modern graphic software.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle French adopter, from Latin adoptō; ad + optō (“to choose, desire”), equivalent to ad- + opt.

Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object. When used in the context of ideas or policies, it implies a formal or permanent choice.

Pitfall

They adopted to the new rulesThey adopted the new rulesAdopt is transitive and takes a direct object; learners often confuse it with 'adapt', which is often followed by 'to'.

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