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1. Choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
   "She adopted the feminist movement";
   - follow, espouse
    
2. Take up and practice as one's own
   - borrow, take over, take up
    
3. Take on titles, offices, duties, responsibilities
   "When will the new President adopt office?";
   - assume, take on, take over
    
4. Take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect
   "he adopted an air of superiority";
   - assume, acquire, take on, take
    
5. Take into one's family
   "They adopted two children from Nicaragua";
   - take in
    
6. Put into dramatic form
   "adopt a book for a screenplay";
   - dramatize, dramatise [Brit]
    
7. Take up the cause, ideology, practice, method, of someone and use it as one's own
   "They adopted the Jewish faith";
   - espouse, embrace, sweep up

Derived forms: adopted, adopting, adopts

See also: accept

Type of: accept, change, choose, compose, have, indite [archaic], pen, pick out, select, take, take office, write

Encyclopedia: Adopt