Adapt means adjust, or change something to fit: adapt to a new timetable, adapt a novel for film. Adopt means take on and start using: adopt a new system, adopt a policy. It also means take a child or a pet into your family: adopt a child, adopt a dog.
adapt or adopt — can you pick the right one?
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adapt to conditions; adapt something for a purpose; adopt a policy/method; adopt a child/pet
- The team adopted a simpler booking system last month.
- They then adapted the system for visitors without internet access.
- The new staff quickly adapted to the earlier opening time.
What changed
First versionIt took me a month to adopt to the new timetable.
RevisionIt took me a month to adapt to the new timetable.
The words differ by one vowel, so either one comes out. But the person is getting used to a timetable, and adjust is adapt to. Adopt takes its object without a preposition, and adopt to doesn't exist.
Often adopt comes first and adapt second: the school adopted a new app and then adapted it for younger students. Adopt a dog means take one home from a shelter; adapt a book means rework it, for example for a film.
Your turn
Choose the verb meaning adjust: We need time to ___ to the smaller workspace.
Show the answer
adapt — The meaning needed is adjust: adapt to the workspace. Adopt means take on, start using, or take into your family.
Describe how you changed some material or a way of working for a new audience. Use adapt something for.
We adapted the museum worksheet for younger visitors by replacing long questions with pictures.
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