adopt

noun

(art, informal) Clipping of adoptable. [A person or animal that is eligible to be adopted.]

verb

To take (a child, heir, friend, citizen, etc.) by choice into a relationship.

To take voluntarily (a child of other parents) to be in the place of, or as, one's own child.

To take by choice into the scope of one's responsibility.

To take or receive as one's own what is not so naturally.

To obtain (a pet) from a shelter or the wild.

To contribute towards the upkeep of (a child or animal), in exchange for occasional stories, pictures, etc.

To select and take or approve.

(chess, slang) To beat an opponent ten times in a row.

Roots

opto-opt · Latin · choose, wish

Synonyms for adopt

espousev embracev takev assumev acceptv approvev

Synonyms & related words for adopt

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of adopt — including espouse, embrace, take, assume, accept, approve. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to adopt

Explore words related to adopt — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include readopt, readoption, adoption, adoptable, adoptively, adoptive, filiate, adoptee. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for adopt

Common synonyms for adopt include espouse, embrace, take, assume, accept, approve — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does adopt come from?

The word adopt breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root -opt, from Latin opto (“choose, wish”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.