adapt

/əˈdæpt/(verb)
AWL Sublist 7CEFR B2IELTS Band 7.0 - 9.0

Academic Definition

To become adjusted to new conditions or environments; to modify something to make it suitable for a new purpose or situation.

Key Academic Collocations

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Word Family & Derivatives

adaptadaptationadaptableadaptabilityadaptedadaptingmaladaptive

Lexical Alternatives (Synonyms)

adjustacclimatemodifytailoraccommodate

Academic Sample Sentences in Context

"Indigenous animal species often struggle to adapt to the rapid ecological disruptions precipitated by anthropogenic global warming."
"The line graph indicates that small retailers adapted more rapidly to digital e-commerce shifts than traditional department stores."
"Immigrants frequently experience psychological disorientation while learning to adapt to the unfamiliar cultural conventions of their host country."

IELTS Examiner Scoring Strategy (Lexical Resource)

Preposition rule: always 'adapt TO changes/circumstances' (never 'adapt with' or 'adapt in').