adopt

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to take into one's family

   They adopted two children.

2. 2
   verb

   to take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect

   I adopted aspects of the styles I researched.

3. 3
   verb

   to take up the cause, ideology, practice, method, of someone and use it as one's own

   I quickly adopted a similar way of making sandwiches.

4. 4
   verb

   to put into dramatic form

   I adopted a book for a screenplay and sold it to a major studio.

5. 5
   verb

   to take up and practice as one's own

   I adopted their mannerisms.

6. 6
   verb

   to choose and follow

   We adopted the new rules yesterday; you can't expect us to have memorized them by today!

7. 7
   verb

   to take on titles, offices, duties, or responsibilities

   I adopted the role of a manager and got a pay raise.

8. 8
   verb

   To take (a child, heir, friend, citizen, etc.) by choice into a relationship.

   A friend of mine recently adopted a Chinese baby girl found on the streets of Beijing.

Etymology

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