adopting

8 definitions • 12 examples

present participle of

to legally take another person's child into your own family and take care of him or her as your own child:

They've adopted a baby girl.

She had the child adopted (= she gave her baby to someone else to take care of).

They have no children of their own, but they're hoping to adopt.

to take an animal that has been left in a place such as a rescue centre, and keep it as your pet:

Only about 20 percent of all dogs and cats that come into the rescue centre will be adopted.

She lives in a 3-bedroomed home with five dogs she adopted from an animal shelter.

to accept or start to use something new:

I think it's time to adopt a different strategy in my dealings with him.

The new tax would force companies to adopt energy-saving measures.

He's adopted a remarkably light-hearted attitude towards the situation.

to choose someone or something or take something as your own:

Dr Kennedy has been adopted as the party's candidate for South Cambridge.

to start behaving in a particular way, especially by choice:

Roz has adopted one or two funny mannerisms since she's been away.

to pay money in order to have your name connected with a particular thing, especially in order to help an organization raise money:

For just $25, you can adopt a word for an entire year.

to agree to be responsible for a road being maintained (= kept in good condition):

The council said the road was never adopted and so it is not obliged to repair it.