Adapt
verb
To change or adjust something to suit a new situation or purpose.
She quickly adapted to the new work environment.
Often appears as...
- adapt to
- adapt for
verb
To change a book, movie, etc., to make it suitable for another form of media.
The book was adapted for the screen.
Often appears as...
- adapt for the screen
- adapt into a movie
verb
In biology, to evolve over time in response to the environment.
The species adapted to its new environment over several generations.
Often appears as...
- adapt to the environment
- species adapt
Usage tips
Academic
verb
In computing, to modify a program or software to make it usable in a different circumstance.
The software was adapted for use on mobile devices.
Often appears as...
- adapt for use
- adapt the software
Usage tips
Technical
verb
To change or adjust something to suit a new situation or purpose.
She quickly adapted to the new work environment.
Often appears as...
- adapt to
- adapt for
verb
To change a book, movie, etc., to make it suitable for another form of media.
The book was adapted for the screen.
Often appears as...
- adapt for the screen
- adapt into a movie
verb
In biology, to evolve over time in response to the environment.
The species adapted to its new environment over several generations.
Often appears as...
- adapt to the environment
- species adapt
Usage tips
Academic
verb
In computing, to modify a program or software to make it usable in a different circumstance.
The software was adapted for use on mobile devices.
Often appears as...
- adapt for use
- adapt the software
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3New Situations
Use 'adapt' to express flexibility and ability to thrive in changed circumstances.
Moving to Canada, he adapted to the cold weather.
Pro Tip 2/3Personal Growth
Implies personal development or improvement when adapting to new roles or tasks.
She adapted her cooking skills to start a catering business.
Pro Tip 3/3Context Matters
'Adapt' usually follows 'to' when a person changes their behavior for a situation.
He adapted quickly to dorm life.
Pro Tip 1/3New Situations
Use 'adapt' to express flexibility and ability to thrive in changed circumstances.
Moving to Canada, he adapted to the cold weather.
Pro Tip 2/3Personal Growth
Implies personal development or improvement when adapting to new roles or tasks.
She adapted her cooking skills to start a catering business.
Pro Tip 3/3Context Matters
'Adapt' usually follows 'to' when a person changes their behavior for a situation.
He adapted quickly to dorm life.
Pro Tip 1/3New Situations
Use 'adapt' to express flexibility and ability to thrive in changed circumstances.
Moving to Canada, he adapted to the cold weather.
Pro Tip 2/3Personal Growth
Implies personal development or improvement when adapting to new roles or tasks.
She adapted her cooking skills to start a catering business.
Pro Tip 3/3Context Matters
'Adapt' usually follows 'to' when a person changes their behavior for a situation.
He adapted quickly to dorm life.
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Video examples
How smart are...
orangutans have adapted to a life high in the rain forest canopies. Many of the skills they learn are transmitted through the special bond they have with their mothers, the most extended in the animal kingdom next to humans. Orangutan mothers usually give birth to one baby at a time, waiting up to eight years before having another.
Video examples
Filming The World's...
see them at all and then suddenly you'll get this flash of red and blue and they catch that tiny bit of light and they look absolutely stunning and then they just melt away and they're phantoms they just become invisible they're the deep calls that they make it's so perfectly adapted to that forest which is really really dense
Video examples
Nathalie Cabrol: How...
But they can adapt only so far, and then when all the water is gone from the surface, microbes have only one solution They go underground. And those microbes, the rocks you see in that slide here, well, they are actually living inside rocks and they are using the protection of the translucence of the rocks
Video examples
Why elephants never...
by encoding important experiences into long-term memories. The ability to distinguish this importance makes elephant memory a complex and adaptable faculty beyond rote memorization. It's what allows elephants who survived a drought in their youth to recognize its warning signs in adulthood,
Video examples
Why is it so hard to...
When they're bombarded by radiation or chemotherapy, some cancer cells can effectively switch on protective shields against whatever's attacking them by changing their gene expression. Malignant cancers are complex systems that constantly evolve and adapt.
Video examples
Why do we hiccup? - John...
and are far more common in infants that adults. Their explanation for this involves the uniquely mammalian activity of nursing. The ancient hiccup reflex may have been adapted by mammals to help remove air from the stomach as a sort of glorified burp.
Video examples
Are you a body with a...
by transferring a human consciousness into a computer. If the body is deeply mapped in the brain, then by extending our sense of self to new wearable devices, our brains may eventually adapt to a restructured version
Video examples
The science of skin...
adapted to have a higher melanin production threshold and more eumelanin, giving skin a darker tone. This built-in sun shield helped protect them from melanoma, likely making them evolutionarily fitter
Video examples
Accessible fart machines...
secret about the whole thing was that if somebody in her life knew how to easily adapt the toy she could participate she could be an active participant in play she could make that remote control car
Video examples
Who are the Water Mafia...
They can adapt if they have the resources, they can move, or they can suffer and die. And if they're moving, this becomes a security concern worldwide.
Video examples
How smart are...
orangutans have adapted to a life high in the rain forest canopies. Many of the skills they learn are transmitted through the special bond they have with their mothers, the most extended in the animal kingdom next to humans. Orangutan mothers usually give birth to one baby at a time, waiting up to eight years before having another.
Video examples
Filming The World's...
see them at all and then suddenly you'll get this flash of red and blue and they catch that tiny bit of light and they look absolutely stunning and then they just melt away and they're phantoms they just become invisible they're the deep calls that they make it's so perfectly adapted to that forest which is really really dense
Video examples
Nathalie Cabrol: How...
But they can adapt only so far, and then when all the water is gone from the surface, microbes have only one solution They go underground. And those microbes, the rocks you see in that slide here, well, they are actually living inside rocks and they are using the protection of the translucence of the rocks
Video examples
Why elephants never...
by encoding important experiences into long-term memories. The ability to distinguish this importance makes elephant memory a complex and adaptable faculty beyond rote memorization. It's what allows elephants who survived a drought in their youth to recognize its warning signs in adulthood,
Video examples
Why is it so hard to...
When they're bombarded by radiation or chemotherapy, some cancer cells can effectively switch on protective shields against whatever's attacking them by changing their gene expression. Malignant cancers are complex systems that constantly evolve and adapt.
Video examples
Why do we hiccup? - John...
and are far more common in infants that adults. Their explanation for this involves the uniquely mammalian activity of nursing. The ancient hiccup reflex may have been adapted by mammals to help remove air from the stomach as a sort of glorified burp.
Video examples
Are you a body with a...
by transferring a human consciousness into a computer. If the body is deeply mapped in the brain, then by extending our sense of self to new wearable devices, our brains may eventually adapt to a restructured version
Video examples
The science of skin...
adapted to have a higher melanin production threshold and more eumelanin, giving skin a darker tone. This built-in sun shield helped protect them from melanoma, likely making them evolutionarily fitter
Video examples
Accessible fart machines...
secret about the whole thing was that if somebody in her life knew how to easily adapt the toy she could participate she could be an active participant in play she could make that remote control car
Video examples
Who are the Water Mafia...
They can adapt if they have the resources, they can move, or they can suffer and die. And if they're moving, this becomes a security concern worldwide.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Clarence Seedorf
Dutch Coach
You cannot leave the pressure and responsibility on young people in general. Young people must enter a safe and protected environment to be able to pass and fail so, little by little, they can adapt.
Quote examples
Luka Modric
Croatian Athlete
It is very challenging to adapt to life at a big club like Madrid, but I'm not the kind of person to make excuses.
Quote examples
Sergio Ramos
Spanish Athlete
I have adapted and feel comfortable in the middle, but I am a world and European champion at right back.
Quote examples
Bing Gordon
American Businessman
I believe in books. I believe more in 'cross-media' - how characters are adapting across mediums.
Quote examples
Maria Montessori
Italian Educator
Education is a work of self-organization by which man adapts himself to the conditions of life.
Quote examples
Caroline Calloway
American Celebrity
The publishing world has been very slow to adapt to the digital world.
Quote examples
Henry Miller
American Author
There is no salvation in becoming adapted to a world which is crazy.
Quote examples
James Lassiter
American Producer
We have to show people we are willing to adapt to their world.
Quote examples
Ian Frazier
American Writer
People in Russia adapt to misery by a deep, deep humor.
Quote examples
Johanna Konta
British Athlete
I think it's important for me to keep adapting.
Quote examples
Clarence Seedorf
Dutch Coach
You cannot leave the pressure and responsibility on young people in general. Young people must enter a safe and protected environment to be able to pass and fail so, little by little, they can adapt.
Quote examples
Luka Modric
Croatian Athlete
It is very challenging to adapt to life at a big club like Madrid, but I'm not the kind of person to make excuses.
Quote examples
Sergio Ramos
Spanish Athlete
I have adapted and feel comfortable in the middle, but I am a world and European champion at right back.
Quote examples
Bing Gordon
American Businessman
I believe in books. I believe more in 'cross-media' - how characters are adapting across mediums.
Quote examples
Maria Montessori
Italian Educator
Education is a work of self-organization by which man adapts himself to the conditions of life.
Quote examples
Caroline Calloway
American Celebrity
The publishing world has been very slow to adapt to the digital world.
Quote examples
Henry Miller
American Author
There is no salvation in becoming adapted to a world which is crazy.
Quote examples
James Lassiter
American Producer
We have to show people we are willing to adapt to their world.
Quote examples
Ian Frazier
American Writer
People in Russia adapt to misery by a deep, deep humor.
Quote examples
Johanna Konta
British Athlete
I think it's important for me to keep adapting.
Example 1 of 10
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