# adopt

> English word · Verb · IPA /əˈdɒpt/ · frequency rank #5,182

## Definitions
1. To take (a child, heir, friend, citizen, etc.) by choice into a relationship.
2. To take (a child, heir, friend, citizen, etc.) by choice into a relationship.
3. To take (a child, heir, friend, citizen, etc.) by choice into a relationship.
4. To take (a child, heir, friend, citizen, etc.) by choice into a relationship.
5. To take or receive as one's own what is not so naturally.
6. To select and take or approve.
7. To beat an opponent ten times in a row.

## Etymology
From Middle French adopter, from Latin adoptō; ad + optō (“to choose, desire”), equivalent to ad- + opt.

## Easily confused with
- **apt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adopt-vs-apt)
- **ADP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adopt-vs-adp)
- **alot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adopt-vs-alot)
- **atop** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adopt-vs-atop)
- **appt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adopt-vs-appt)
- **adult** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adopt-vs-adult)
- **adore** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adopt-vs-adore)
- **aloft** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adopt-vs-aloft)
- **adorn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adopt-vs-adorn)
- **afoot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adopt-vs-afoot)
- **adopted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adopt-vs-adopted)
- **adopter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adopt-vs-adopter)
- **ado** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ado-vs-adopt)
- **about** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/about-vs-adopt)
- **admit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/admit-vs-adopt)
- **adapt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adapt-vs-adopt)
- **adobe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adobe-vs-adopt)
- **Adolf** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adolf-vs-adopt)
- **adept** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adept-vs-adopt)
- **abort** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abort-vs-adopt)

## Common misspellings (7)
`addopt`, `adoppt`, `adoptt`, `adotp`, `adpot`, `aodpt`, `daopt`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/adopt