[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/adopt.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / adopt

[← A](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/A/)

# adopt

«adopt» in Mova's school dictionary: **To take a child into your family legally and raise them…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

verb (adopt, adopts, adopted, adopting)

### meaning for a pupil

1) To take a child into your family legally and raise them as your own. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adopt/#m1)

2) To take a pet home from a shelter to care for. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adopt/#m2)

3) To start using a new idea, plan, method or way of behaving. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adopt/#m3)

4) (formal) To vote to accept a plan or law. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adopt/#m4)

### sense in the lessons

Family and everyday life: adopt a child, adopt a dog. In school: a class might adopt a new rule or adopt an animal at the zoo (sponsor it). In history and civics: a country adopts a flag or a law. Phrases: adopt a pet, adopted son, adopt a plan, adopt an approach.

### examples

- They adopted a baby girl from overseas. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adopt/#x1)
- We adopted a cat from the animal shelter. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adopt/#x2)
- The school adopted a new uniform. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adopt/#x3)
- Our class adopted a penguin at the zoo. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adopt/#x4)
- The council adopted the plan to build a park. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adopt/#x5)
- She adopted a new way of studying and her marks improved. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adopt/#x6)
- I have been recommended to adopt a diction not too remote from that of the Authorised Version. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adopt/#x7)

### note

Do not confuse adopt (take as your own) with adapt (change to fit) — a very common trap. Noun: adoption; adjective: adopted (an adopted child), adoptive (adoptive parents).

### In the corpora

- [The Stranger-man is adopted into the Tribe because he was a gentleman about the mud.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/86-justso-first-letter-3-a-great-invention/8/)
- [An adopted or fostered child can choose what to share about their story.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/96-grandparents-divorce-and-step-families/15/)
- [If you are adopted or in foster care, you share only what you want; your story is yours to tell or keep.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/214-family-changes-and-grief/10/)
- [Adopted children hear all sorts.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/522-adoption/21/)
- [Theo's sister Priya was adopted too, from a different birth family.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/522-adoption/30/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «adopt» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/adopt/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.