What's the Difference Between 'Adapt' and 'Adopt'?
In this blog post we look at when to use adapt and when to use adopt.
'Adapt' or 'Adopt'?
The words "adapt" and "adopt" have similar meanings but are used in slightly different contexts.
To adapt means to change or modify in order to fit a new situation or circumstance. It often implies a process of adjustment or transformation, and can be used to describe the actions of an individual or a group.
On the other hand, to adopt means to take and use as one's own. It can refer to the acceptance of a new idea, policy, or course of action, but it is more commonly used to refer to the process of becoming the legal parent of a child.
In summary, to adapt is to change oneself to fit a new situation, while to adopt is to take something that already exists and make it a part of oneself.
Here are some example sentences to clarify the difference between "adapt" and "adopt":
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"The plant was able to adapt to the harsh desert conditions by developing long, deep roots." (The plant changed to fit into its environment)
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"After moving to a new city, it took me a while to adapt to the different culture and customs." (The narrator changed their outlook in order to fit into their new surroundings)
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"The organization decided to adopt a new marketing strategy." (The organization accepted a new strategy as their own)
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"After a long process of evaluation, the couple was finally able to adopt a child from abroad." (The couple were legally accepted as the child’s parents)
Examples of Adapt in a Sentence
Here are some example sentences including the word “adapt”:
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"The plant was able to adapt to the harsh desert conditions by developing long, deep roots."
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"After moving to a new city, it took me a while to adapt to the different culture and customs."
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"The company had to adapt their product line to meet the changing needs of their customers."
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"The soldier was able to adapt to the rigors of training and eventually became an expert in hand-to-hand combat."
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"The school had to adapt its curriculum to the new state education standards."
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"The actor was able to adapt to the demands of the role and gave a powerful performance."
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"The organization had to adapt its fundraising strategy after the pandemic hit and many of their usual events were cancelled."
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"The team was able to adapt to the loss of their star player and still managed to win the championship."
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"The scientist was able to adapt his research methods to the changing conditions in the field."
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"The company had to adapt their marketing strategy to the growing trend of e-commerce."
Examples of Adopt in a Sentence
Here are some example sentences including the word “adopt”:
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"The family decided to adopt a vegetarian diet after learning about the environmental benefits."
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"The school district adopted a new curriculum to align with the latest research in education."
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"The company adopted a policy of transparency in its communications with customers."
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"The town council voted to adopt a new zoning plan to encourage development in certain areas."
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"The organization adopted a new set of bylaws to better reflect its current goals and operations."
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"The government adopted a new policy on immigration to address the current crisis."
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"The university adopted a new code of conduct to promote a safer and more respectful campus environment."
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"The company adopted a new system for tracking employee performance and development."
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"The NGO adopted a new strategy for addressing poverty and inequality in the community."
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"The school adopted a new policy on bullying to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all students."
