Redeem Upgrade Help
Sign in

TOP

Definition of adapt verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

adapt

verb
 
/əˈdæpt/
 
/əˈdæpt/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they adapt
 
/əˈdæpt/
 
/əˈdæpt/
he / she / it adapts
 
/əˈdæpts/
 
/əˈdæpts/
past simple adapted
 
/əˈdæptɪd/
 
/əˈdæptɪd/
past participle adapted
 
/əˈdæptɪd/
 
/əˈdæptɪd/
-ing form adapting
 
/əˈdæptɪŋ/
 
/əˈdæptɪŋ/
jump to other results
  1. [intransitive, transitive] to change your behaviour in order to deal more successfully with a new situation synonym adjust
    • It's amazing how soon you adapt.
    • The organisms were forced to adapt in order to survive.
    • adapt to something Some animals have a remarkable ability to adapt to changing environments.
    • A large organization can be slow to adapt to change
    • The company was able to adapt to the conditions and enhance its position.
    • We have had to adapt quickly to the new system.
    • adapt yourself to something It took him a while to adapt himself to his new surroundings.
    Extra Examples
    • The children have adapted well to the heat.
    • The company can easily adapt to changing demand.
    • We need to assess the new situation and adapt accordingly.
    Topics Successb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • successfully
    • well
    • quickly
    verb + adapt
    • be able to
    • can
    • be unable to
    preposition
    • to
    phrases
    • the ability to adapt
    • find it difficult to adapt
    • find it hard to adapt
    See full entry
  2. [transitive] to change something in order to make it suitable for a new use or situation synonym modify
    • adapt something These styles can be adapted to suit individual tastes.
    • We need technology that can be adapted to suit the needs of the future.
    • adapt something for something The gym has been adapted for use by visually impaired students.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionarypreposition
    • for
    • from
    phrases
    • specially adapted
    See full entry
  3. [transitive] to change a book or play so that it can be made into a play, film, television drama, etc.
    • adapt something for something Three of her novels have been adapted for television.
    • adapt something from something The radio play had been adapted from a novel.
    • adapt something They have adapted her original novel beautifully.
    • adapt something for something from something It was adapted for the screen from his original play.
    Topics Literature and writingb2, Film and theatreb2, TV, radio and newsb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionarypreposition
    • for
    • from
    phrases
    • specially adapted
    See full entry
  4. Word Originlate Middle English: from French adapter, from Latin adaptare, from ad- ‘to’ + aptare (from aptus ‘fit’).
See adapt in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee adapt in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
nibble
noun
 
 
From the Topic
Cooking and eating
C2
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day