adapt

To change your behavior or ways of doing things so you can manage a new situation.

• Children often adapt quickly.
• We adapted to life in a smaller town.
• How do animals adapt to extreme cold?

How to use it: adapt to something (It took time to adapt to the new climate.); adapt to doing something (She adapted to working at night.)

Similar words: adjust, acclimatize

Common phrases: adapt to change, adapt to something, adapt quickly, adapt to life

To change something so it suits a new purpose, need, or situation.

• We adapted the room for meetings.
• She adapted the recipe to suit her diet.
• Can this equipment be adapted for children?

How to use it: adapt something for something (We adapted the room for wheelchair users.); adapt something to something (The teacher adapted the lesson to the children's needs.)

Similar words: modify, adjust, alter

Common phrases: adapt something for use, adapt the design, adapt to someone's needs, adapt a building

To change a book, play, or other work so it can become a film or another kind of entertainment.

• They adapted the book for television.
• The director is adapting a short story into a film.
• Has this novel ever been adapted for the stage?

How to use it: adapt something for something (They adapted the novel for television.); adapt something into something (She adapted the story into a musical.)

Similar words: rework

Common phrases: adapt a novel, adapt for television, adapt for the stage, adapt into a film