'Adopt' means to take something on as your own; 'adapt' means to adjust to something new.
"Adopt" means to take something on as your own and start using it: adopting a child, adopting an idea, adopting a new policy.
They decided to adopt a dog from the local shelter.
The company adopted a new strategy after the last quarter's results.
More schools are adopting this teaching method every year.
"Adapt" means to change or adjust to a new situation: adapting to the weather, adapting a plan, adapting a novel for film.
It took her a few weeks to adapt to the new time zone.
We had to adapt our plans because of the weather.
The book was adapted into a movie last year.
Common mistake
This mix-up is very natural for Spanish speakers, since "adoptar" and "adaptar" look almost identical in Spanish. But in English: "adopt a plan" means you decide to use it, "adapt a plan" means you change it to work better. They're not interchangeable.
Trick to remember it
"Adopt" is like adopting a pet: you take it AS IT IS, without changing it. "Adapt" means changing something so it fits better, think of a power adapter: it changes the plug's shape so it works in another country.
Quick rule
Are you taking something on as-is, as your own? "Adopt". Are you changing something to fit a new situation? "Adapt".
Did you know?
Both words come from the same Latin root "aptare" (to adjust, to make fit), but through different paths: "adopt" comes from "adoptare" (to choose for oneself, "ad-" toward + "optare" to choose), while "adapt" comes from "adaptare" (to adjust to, "ad-" toward + "aptare" to fit). In other words, "adopt" is about CHOOSING, and "adapt" is about ADJUSTING, the difference was already there in the original Latin.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The city council voted to _____ new recycling rules starting next month.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
It's hard to _____ to living in a new country, especially the language and the food.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
"Above" is at a higher level without contact; "over" implies covering, movement, or crossing.
"Actually" corrects or contrasts an assumption; "really" intensifies or confirms.
'Currently' means 'at the present time'; 'actually' means 'in reality', not 'nowadays'.
"Adverse" = harmful external conditions; "averse" = personal reluctance or strong dislike.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy