Adopting is the act of taking on or embracing a particular method, belief, or status, often through formal or deliberate choice. It typically involves a transition or change from previous practice, and can apply to policies, formats, or populations. In usage, it frequently precedes a noun (adopting strategies) or uses the gerund form (adopting a new approach) to describe the ongoing act.
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- You may flatten the stressed vowel in the second syllable, producing /ə/ for /ɒ/ or /ɑː/. Practice by isolating /ˈdɒp/ vs /ˈdɑːp/ and then connect to /tɪŋ/. - You might merge the /p/ and /t/ into a poorly separated consonant cluster; ensure a clean /p/ release before /t/ transition. - Some pronounce /adopting/ with wrong stress, e.g., /ˌædəˈpɪŋ/ or /ˌædɑːˈpɪŋ/; fix by placing primary stress on the second syllable and keeping a light onset on the first syllable. - Rapid speech can shorten the final /ɪŋ/; practice slow, then normal speed to keep syllable integrity. - Avoid voicing the final -ing as /ən/ or /ɪŋ/ without the /t/ release; keep clear /tɪŋ/.
- US: expect rhotic influence minimal in this word; ensure /ə/ then /ˈdɑː/ or /ˈdɒp/ depending on vowel; keep /tɪŋ/ crisp. - UK: more clipped second syllable; avoid over-enunciating the /ɒ/. Consider a slightly shorter schwa in initial syllable; maintain non-rhotic vowel quality overall. - AU: vowels tend toward /ɒ/ with shorter duration; keep /t/ release distinct; maintain final /ɪŋ/ with clear nasalization, but not overly voiced. - IPA references: US əˈdɑːp.tɪŋ, UK əˈdɒp.tɪŋ, AU əˈdɒp.tɪŋ.
"The company began adopting a more customer-centric strategy."
"She is adopting a wait-and-see approach to the policy changes."
"They are adopting a child from abroad this year."
"Researchers are adopting new methods to ensure data reliability."
Adopting comes from the verb adopt, which traces to the Latin adopto, from ad- (toward) + optare (to choose, desire). The root opt- means ‘to choose’ or ‘to desire.’ In Late Latin, adopto referred to choosing or taking something as one’s own. In Old French, adopting appeared as adopter, then passed into English as adopt with the -ing participle adopted later in Middle English as adopting. Philosophically, adoption of ideas or policies broadened in the 19th–20th centuries, with social and organizational contexts influencing the verb’s sense of purposeful change rather than mere possession. The noun and verb forms consolidated as standard English usage, with the gerund-participle adopting ongoing, progressive nuance. First known use in English is attested in the 15th century, evolving from religious and legal adoption into modern, broader usage capturing deliberate acceptance or integration of new practices, methods, or identities.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "adopting" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "adopting" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "adopting"
-ing sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounce as ə-DOP-ting, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA US: əˈdɑːp.tɪŋ, UK: əˈdɒp.tɪŋ, AU: əˈdɒp.tɪŋ. Start with a schwa, then a strong DOP syllable with a rounded short o in many speakers; end with a light -ing. You’ll want a crisp /d/ and a quick, reduced first syllable, followed by a clear /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ and a final /tɪŋ/.
Common errors: treating second syllable as /æ/ instead of /ɒ/ or /ɑː/; misplacing stress as flexible across syllables; final -ing pronounced as /ɪŋ/ with a strong nasal. Correct by ensuring /ˈdɒp/ or /ˈdɑːp/ receives primary stress, use a short, clipped /t/ before /ɪŋ/, avoid fully vocalizing the -ing. Practice with minimal pairs like ‘adore/ a-dop-ing’ to keep stress stable.
US: əˈdɑːp.tɪŋ with rhotic r-silent depending on locale; UK: əˈdɒp.tɪŋ with shorter /ɒ/ and non-rhotic tendency; AU: similar to UK but often more centralized vowel quality and faster syllable tempo. The /ə/ initial remains; the second syllable vowel can shift between /ɑː/ and /ɒ/; final -ing typically /tɪŋ/. Emphasis consistency on the second syllable is common across variants.
Key challenges include the shortened initial schwa, the tense vowel in the stressed syllable (/ɒ/ or /ɑː/), and the final /t/ before /ɪŋ/ which requires precise timing to avoid a tense /t/ or a blended /tɪŋ/. Lip rounding on /ɒ/ vs /ɑː/ affects perception, and several speakers produce a subtle length difference between /ˈdɒp/ and /ˈdɑːp/. Practicing with minimal pairs helps fix this.
A distinctive feature is the post-stressed vowel reduction and the tight transition from the stressed /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ to the /p/ consonant, which then cleanly releases into /tɪŋ/. Some speakers may insert a slight glottal stop before /t/ in rapid speech, especially in UK or US casual speech. Maintain a crisp /t/ release before -ing to preserve clarity.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "adopting"!
- Shadowing: listen to native speakers say ‘adopting’ in sentences and imitate exactly the rhythm, inflection, and stress. - Minimal pairs: adopt /adopt/ vs adopt-ing contrasts; load focusing on the –ing suffix and the stressed syllable. - Rhythm practice: practice stressed-unstressed pattern: ə-DOP-ting in a steady pace; gradually elongate the stressed syllable for emphasis. - Intonation: practice rising intonation on statements where adopting is introduced; use falling intonation for concluding phrases. - Stress practice: anchor primary stress on the second syllable; use metronome with a 70–90 BPM tempo to align syllable timing. - Recording/playback: record yourself saying the word in sentences; compare with native pronunciations, adjust tongue position and release.
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