Adapt and Adopt confused and misused words - English Mirror Distinguished Adapt and Adopt which are often confused by English speakers. Avoid common mistakes using words with same pronunciation like adapt, and adopt in English. Adapt Adopt --------------- ‘Adapt’ and ‘adopt’ share similar spellings and similar meanings, but they are not one and the same. To ‘adapt’ is to become or make something suitable to an environment or condition. It took me a long time after college to adapt to life in the office. An inability to adapt will prove an obstacle on the road to success. To ‘adopt’ is to take something and use it as or make it your own. I adopted his policy of neutrality and stayed out of trouble. We are planning to adopt a child.


