Common Confusion: Adapt vs Adopt

Adapt VS adopt

These are two very easily and commonly mistaken words. Have you ever mixed them up?

Adapt Definition: 1. to change something to suit different conditions or use ; 2. to become familiar with a new situation Example: 1. The voltage in Japan is different from the one in Hong Kong. We can’t use our hairdryer without an adapter. 2. Olivia is having a hard time adapting to the new school as a latecomer.

Adopt Definition: 1. to legally take another person's child into your own family and take care of him or her as your own child ; 2. to accept or start to use something new; 3. to choose someone or something or take something as your own

Example: 1. After years of trying to have a baby, the couple decided to adopt one from the orphanage. 2. Maybe our company should adopt a new strategy when it comes to customer service. 3. Our school is adopting educational policies and teaching methods from Finland.

Reference: Cambridge Dictionary