adapt

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/əˈdæpt/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/əˈdæpt/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(ə dapt)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
a•dapt /əˈdæpt/USA pronunciation   v. 
  1. [+ object] to make suitable to new or different requirements or conditions; adjust or modify appropriately: They adapted the movie for a TV miniseries.
  2. [~ (+ oneself) + to + object)] to adjust oneself to different conditions, environment, etc.: My children adapted (themselves) to life abroad quite smoothly.
a•dapt•a•bil•i•ty /əˌdæptəˈbɪlɪti/USA pronunciation  n. [uncountable]
a•dapt•a•ble, adj. See -apt-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
a•dapt  (ə dapt),USA pronunciation v.t. 
  1. to make suitable to requirements or conditions;
    adjust or modify fittingly:They adapted themselves to the change quickly. He adapted the novel for movies.

v.i. 
  1. to adjust oneself to different conditions, environment, etc.:to adapt easily to all circumstances.
  • Latin adaptāre to fit, adjust, perh. via French adapter. See ad-, apt
  • 1605–15
a•dapted•ness, n. 
    • 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged fit, accommodate, suit, reconcile, conform; modify, rework, convert. See adjust. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
adapt / əˈdæpt/
  1. (often followed by to) to adjust (someone or something, esp oneself) to different conditions, a new environment, etc
  2. (transitive) to fit, change, or modify to suit a new or different purpose
Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin adaptāre, from ad- to + aptāre to fit, from aptus aptaˈdaptableaˌdaptaˈbility, aˈdaptablenessaˈdaptive
'adapt' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
In Lists: Biology, more...
Collocations: adapt to [changing, new, unfamiliar], adapt to [changes, new people, unfamiliar situations], find it [difficult, easy] to adapt, more...

Forum discussions with the word(s) "adapt" in the title:


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