- (often followed by to)
to adjust (someone or something, esp oneself) to different conditions, a new environment, etc - (transitive)
to fit, change, or modify to suit a new or different purpose
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
a•dapt /əˈdæpt/USA pronunciation
v.
a•dapt•a•ble, adj. See -apt-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- [~ + object] to make suitable to new or different requirements or conditions; adjust or modify appropriately: They adapted the movie for a TV miniseries.
- [~ (+ oneself) + to + object)] to adjust oneself to different conditions, environment, etc.: My children adapted (themselves) to life abroad quite smoothly.
a•dapt•a•ble, adj. See -apt-.
a•dapt
(ə dapt′),USA pronunciation v.t.
v.i.
a•dapt′ed•ness, n.
- 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.
- 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
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged fit, accommodate, suit, reconcile, conform; modify, rework, convert. See adjust.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'adapt' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Africanize
- English
- accede
- acclimate
- acclimatize
- accommodate
- accommodationist
- accord
- adaptable
- adaptation
- adapter
- adaptive
- adaptogen
- adjust
- agile
- arrange
- artillery
- assimilate
- attemper
- calculate
- cinematize
- coadapted
- configure
- conform
- containerize
- contrive
- convert
- dark adaptation
- dinosaur
- do
- doctor
- domesticate
- electrify
- enculturate
- fashion
- frame
- gear
- gerrymander
- hot rod
- humor
- humour
- indigenize
- interface
- jailbreak
- lend
- light adaptation
- make-up
- manipulate
- match
- misadapt