Adapt means to modify something to fit a new purpose or conditions. It can also refer to adjusting behavior or responses to suit a situation. The term spans both technical changes (e.g., adapting a device) and human adaptation (e.g., adapting to a new culture). It implies gradual alteration rather than wholesale replacement.
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"The company plans to adapt its software for mobile users."
"Animals that migrate have adapted to different climates over generations."
"She had to adapt quickly to the fast pace of the new job."
"The novel was adapted into a screenplay for film."
Adapt originates from the Latin word adaptare, which means to fit or adjust. The root ad- means toward, and aptare means to fit, shape, or prepare. In Latin, adaptare appears as a compound of ad- (toward) and aptare (to fit). The word entered English via Old French adaptier, retaining the core sense of making something suitable for a particular use. By the Middle English period, adapt had solidified its meaning of changing to suit new conditions, often in relation to people, objects, or systems. Through the centuries, adapt expanded into technical domains (e.g., adapting machinery, adapting to environment) and abstract senses (adapting one’s behavior or strategy). The term has retained a consistent thread: the act of altering form or function to meet new requirements. First known uses in English appear in the late 15th to early 16th centuries, with broader adoption in scientific and literary contexts by the 19th century, aligning with discussions of adaptation in biology, technology, and culture.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "adapt" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "adapt" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "adapt"
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Pronounce as ə-ˈdæpt in General American, and ə-ˈdɑːpt in many UK varieties. The primary stress is on the second syllable. Begin with a schwa syllable, then a low open-front vowel /æ/ or /ɑː/ depending on the accent, followed by a voiceless /p/ and a final /t/. IPA: US /əˈdæpt/, UK /əˈdɑːpt/, AU /əˈdæpt/. Tip: keep the /d/ light and the final /pt/ as a quick, unreleased transition into a crisp /t/.
Common mistakes: (1) inserting an extra vowel in the first syllable (agh-DAHPT). (2) Pronouncing the second syllable with /æ/ as in cat in British English; in many accents it’s a lax /ɑː/ or /æ/ depending on region. (3) Voicing the final consonants too strongly, making /dæpt/ or /dæptɪ/ instead of a clean /dæpt/. Correction: keep the first syllable unstressed schwa, the second syllable with a short, tense vowel, and end with a quick, unreleased /t/ after /p/.
In US, /əˈdæpt/ with a short /æ/ and a light /d/ sound; final /pt/ is often quick. In UK, /əˈdɑːpt/ can have a broader /ɑː/ and a crisper /t/, sometimes with rhotic tendencies in certain dialects. Australian tends toward /əˈdæpt/ or /əˈdæpt/ with a compact /pt/ and less vowel reduction in the second syllable. Overall, rhoticity is less influential for /t/ than the vowel quality of the second syllable.
The difficulty centers on the stressed second syllable and the heavy consonant cluster /pt/ at the end. The /æ/ vs /ɑː/ split can be tricky across dialects, and the transition from a voiced /d/ to an unvoiced /p/ can feel abrupt. Practicing quick releases and maintaining a clean /t/ without a burst helps. Focus on the sequence schwa + short vowel + /d/ + /æpt/ (or /ɑːpt) in your target accent.
A distinctive feature is the short, tense vowel in the second syllable that contrasts with the unstressed first syllable. In many dialects, the /d/ is sandwiched between a light /ə/ and a voiceless /p/, giving a compact, clipped ending /pt/. The word’s stress pattern (unstressed-first, stressed-second) helps differentiate it from similar forms like 'adept' which has a different meaning and stress.
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