Adapt and adopt look similar, but they do different jobs.
Adapt means to adjust, change, or become suitable for a new situation. You use it when something is modified to fit conditions.
Example: She adapted quickly to remote work. In this sentence, she changed her habits to fit a new environment.
Adopt means to accept, choose, or begin using something as your own. It can refer to ideas, methods, policies, or even legally taking a child into a family.
Example: They adopted a new policy last year. Here, they chose to start using that policy.
- Use adapt when the key idea is change or adjustment.
- Use adopt when the key idea is acceptance or choice.
- If something is being made to fit, use adapt.
- If something is being taken up or approved, use adopt.
A quick way to remember it is this: one word is about changing, and the other is about choosing.