adopt

Everyday

1. To take a child into your family legally and raise them as your own. tree →
2. To take a pet home from a shelter to care for. tree →
3. To start using a new idea, plan, method or way of behaving. tree →
4. (formal) To vote to accept a plan or law. tree →

In the lessons

Family and everyday life: adopt a child, adopt a dog. In school: a class might adopt a new rule or adopt an animal at the zoo (sponsor it). In history and civics: a country adopts a flag or a law. Phrases: adopt a pet, adopted son, adopt a plan, adopt an approach.

Examples

• They adopted a baby girl from overseas. tree →
• We adopted a cat from the animal shelter. tree →
• The school adopted a new uniform. tree →
• Our class adopted a penguin at the zoo. tree →
• The council adopted the plan to build a park. tree →
• She adopted a new way of studying and her marks improved. tree →
• I have been recommended to adopt a diction not too remote from that of the Authorised Version. tree →

Note

Do not confuse adopt (take as your own) with adapt (change to fit) — a very common trap. Noun: adoption; adjective: adopted (an adopted child), adoptive (adoptive parents).