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Adapt vs Adopt

Definitions​

  • ‘Adapt’ (verb) means ‘make suitable for/adjusted to a new use or condition’.
  • ‘Adopt’ (verb) means ’take something as one’s own; accept or follow’.

What’s the difference between ‘adapt’ and ‘adopt’?​

Because they differ in just one letter, it is easy to misspell and confuse these words. But they have very different meanings, and also different patterns of use.

  • ‘Adapt’ can be used on its own or followed by the preposition ‘to’ (e.g. adapt to a new environment).
  • ‘Adopt’ is always used with a complement (e.g. adopt a policy).

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How they’re used​

Example sentences with ‘adapt’

  • We outline strategies to adapt to climate change.
  • Phytoplankton adapt to various ocean environments.

Example sentences with ‘adopt’

  • This study explores teachers’ decisions to adopt new technologies.
  • The authors adopt a new conceptual framework.