Look-alike words

Adapt vs. Adopt

Adapt means to change something, or yourself, to fit a new situation. Adopt means to take something as your own, such as a child, a pet, an idea or a plan. You adapt to a new city; you adopt a rescue dog.

Word	Part of speech	Meaning
adapt	verb	to change to fit new conditions, or to change something so it works for a new use
adopt	verb	to take a child or animal into your family legally and raise it as your own
adopt	verb	to start using an idea, method, rule or attitude

Adapt

verb: to change to fit new conditions, or to change something so it works for a new use

It took Priya a few months to adapt to the cold winters.
The chef adapted the recipe so it has no dairy.

Adopt

verb: to take a child or animal into your family legally and raise it as your own

Sam and his wife adopted a baby girl last spring.
We adopted two kittens from the local shelter.

verb: to start using an idea, method, rule or attitude

The school adopted a new grading system this year.
Our team adopted a four-day work week as a trial.

How to remember the difference

Adapt has a for alter: you alter something so it fits. Adopt has o for own: you make something your own.

Good to know

An adapter (also spelled adaptor) is a device that lets one plug or part fit another, which matches the idea of changing to fit. A book that is changed for the screen becomes an adaptation, not an adoption.

Spot the mistake

Our cat had trouble ~~adopting~~ adapting to the new apartment.
Correct: Our cat had trouble adapting to the new apartment.
The city council voted to ~~adapt~~ adopt the new recycling plan as written.
Correct: The city council voted to adopt the new recycling plan as written.

Check yourself

Pick the word that fits each sentence.

1. Plants in the desert to long periods without water.

2. My aunt plans to an older dog from the shelter.