adopt Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
    follow; espouse.
    • She followed the feminist movement
    • The candidate espouses Republican ideals
  2. verb take up and practice as one's own
    take over; take up; borrow.
  3. verb take on titles, offices, duties, responsibilities
    assume; take on; take over.
    • When will the new President assume office?
  4. verb take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect
    assume; take on; acquire; take.
    • His voice took on a sad tone
    • The story took a new turn
    • he adopted an air of superiority
    • She assumed strange manners
    • The gods assume human or animal form in these fables
  5. verb take into one's family
    take in.
    • They adopted two children from Nicaragua
  6. verb put into dramatic form
    dramatize; dramatise.
    • adopt a book for a screenplay
  7. verb take up the cause, ideology, practice, method, of someone and use it as one's own
    sweep up; embrace; espouse.
    • She embraced Catholicism
    • They adopted the Jewish faith

WordNet

A*dopt" transitive verb
Etymology
L. adoptare; ad + optare to choose, desire: cf. F. adopter. See Option.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Adopted; present participle & verbal noun Adopting
Definitions
  1. To take by choice into relationship, as, child, heir, friend, citizen, etc. ; esp. to take voluntarily (a child of other parents) to be in the place of, or as, one's own child.
  2. To take or receive as one's own what is not so naturally; to select and take or approve; as, to adopt the view or policy of another; these resolutions were adopted.

Webster 1913