Adjusts is the verb meaning to fit or tailor something by making small changes. Pronounced with secondary stress on the root verb, it typically appears in present tense third-person singular form and is commonly used in technical, fashion, or everyday contexts to describe fine-tuning or adapting settings, positions, or arrangements. The word combines a prefix sense of change with a simple, short vowel and final s sound.
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"The technician adjusts the thermostat to optimize energy use."
"She adjusts her glasses and takes a deep breath before speaking."
"The committee adjusts the budget to accommodate new priorities."
"If the straps are too loose, adjusts the harness for a secure fit."
Adjusts derives from the verb adjust, which comes from the Latin ad- meaning toward or at, and juctus, from iungere meaning to join or unite. The Latin root juctus gave rise to older words forming under the sense of “to bring into proper relation.” In Middle English, adjust evolved through French influence as a term used in mechanical and legal contexts, signifying the act of bringing two parts into proper relation or proportion. The modern sense broadened to include tailoring or moderating settings, degrees, or conditions. The present tense form adjusts is the third-person singular in English, maintaining the root meaning while adding the common -s ending. First known uses appear in technical writings from late 16th to 17th centuries, particularly in instrument calibration and legal adjustments, and by the 19th century, it had become commonplace in everyday speech and writing, reflecting both physical alteration and metaphorical adaptation. The etymology reflects a broadening of the core idea from literal joining to inclusive modification across domains like mechanics, logic, and decision-making.
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Words that rhyme with "adjusts"
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Pronounce as /əˈdʒʌsts/ in US and UK, with stress on the second syllable. Begin with a schwa /ə/ sound, then the affricate /dʒ/ as in 'judge', followed by /ʌ/ as in 'strut', and end with /sts/ where the final s is a crisp voiceless sibilant. Mouth: relaxed jaw, lips neutral, tip of tongue high for /dʒ/, tip behind upper teeth for /s/; ensure the vowel is brisk but not reduced in careful speech. For Australian, many speakers maintain /ɪ/ or a slightly higher /ʌ/ depending on region, but the standard remains /əˈdʒʌsts/.
Common mistakes: (1) pronouncing the second syllable with a full vowel like /æ/ instead of /ʌ/ (e.g., /əˈædʒəsts/). (2) reducing the /dʒ/ sequence to a simple /d/ or /ʒ/ causing /ədʒəsts/ or /ədʒs/. (3) elongating the final /s/ or making it a /z/ in plural contexts, which changes voicing. Correction: keep the /dʒ/ as a single affricate, use /ʌ/ in the stressed syllable, and end with /sts/ as a crisp, voiceless sequence. Practice with careful repetition: /əˈdʒʌsts/.
In US/UK, the core is /əˈdʒʌsts/ with a rhotic influence in US that subtly colors the preceding vowel and a crisp final /s/. UK speakers often have less rhoticity influence, but the central vowel remains /ʌ/ or a near-schwa depending on the speaker. Australian English generally features a broader /ɐ/ to /ə/ transition and a slightly shorter, sharper /s/; some speakers may voice the final /t/ subtly as /ts/ or edge toward /s/ depending on pace. Overall, the primary syllable stress remains on the second syllable across accents.
The difficulty lies in the quick transition from /dʒ/ to /ʌ/ then to the final /s/ without a voiced-voiceless shift that can blur the final s. The /dʒ/ is an affricate combining /d/ and /ʒ/, which can be tricky for non-native speakers to articulate cleanly. Additionally, the unstressed schwa before /dʒ/ can be shortened in rapid speech, causing vowel reduction that conceals the syllable boundary. Focusing on the palate position for /dʒ/ and keeping the tongue centralized will improve accuracy.
A unique aspect is the alveolar-tongue contact for the /dʒ/ sound following a short, unstressed schwa and the crisp transition to /sts/ at the end. Ensure you maintain voiceless /s/ after the /t/ to avoid a voiced /z/ by mistake. You can practice by isolating the final cluster: 'dzh-uh-sts' with a firm final s. The second syllable carries the pressure peak, so you should maintain a clear, quick release from /dʒ/ into the open /ʌ/ before locking into the /sts/.
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