adopt

verb
UK: /əˈdɒpt/
US: /əˈdɑːpt/

  1. To legally take a child and raise them as your own.

    1. They want to adopt a baby. [ ] [ ]
    2. The couple decided to adopt a child after many years of trying to conceive. [ ] [ ]

  2. To start to use a particular method, practice, or custom.

    1. We should adopt this plan. [ ] [ ]
    2. The company decided to adopt a more environmentally friendly approach to business. [ ] [ ]

  3. To accept or approve something.

    1. Congress will adopt the bill. [ ] [ ]
    2. The committee voted to adopt the proposed changes to the curriculum. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

assume approve take on accept embrace ratify
adopt adjective

  1. Having been taken into one's family through legal means.

    1. She is my adopted sister. [ ] [ ]
    2. They celebrated their adopted daughter's graduation with immense pride. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "adopt" in English means: To legally take a child and raise them as your own., To start to use a particular method, practice, or custom., To accept or approve something..

The phonetic transcription of "adopt" is /əˈdɒpt/ in British English and /əˈdɑːpt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "adopt": assume, approve, take on, accept, embrace, ratify.

Example usage of "adopt": "They want to adopt a baby.". More examples on the page.