Added 8 October 2026
adopt
/əˈdɒpt/ verb
In Latin: adoptō Wiktionary
verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about adopt at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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To take (a child, heir, friend, citizen, etc.) by choice into a relationship. To take voluntarily (a child of other parents) to be in the place of, or as, one's own child.
A friend of mine recently adopted a Chinese baby girl found on the streets of Beijing.
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To take voluntarily (a child of other parents) to be in the place of, or as, one's own child.
A friend of mine recently adopted a Chinese baby girl found on the streets of Beijing.
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To obtain (a pet) from a shelter or the wild.
We're going to adopt a Dalmatian.
noun
Origin
From Middle French adopter, from Latin adoptō; ad + optō (“to choose, desire”), equivalent to ad- + opt.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)