adapt at work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "adapt at work" is not correct; the correct expression is "adapt to work." You can use it when discussing someone's ability to adjust to their work environment or tasks. Example: "She can easily adapt to work in different team settings." Alternative expressions include "adjust in the workplace" and "acclimate to work."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In Conscious, the authors explore how we can sharpen this critical skill of being conscious, to improve our ability to lead change and adapt, at work and in life.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

He has struggled to adapt at this level but he has worked at it.

BBC

"It was hard to adapt at first.

BBC

Licensing content across consortia is a longstanding example of how the librarian's role will adapt to work at scale.

The Guardian

Why not teach them what you have learned about how to successfully adapt to change at work?

Forbes

"This may mean adapting work practices and work places.

The Guardian - Money

And yet, why should studios need to adapt specific works at all?

The Guardian - Film

We visit London's Science Museum to see a new exhibition on robotics and discover what past mechanisation might teach tomorrow's workers about adapting to automation at work.

BBC

To obtain PVH data, an ionospheric vertical sounding system was suitably adapted to work at a single fixed frequency.

Advances in Space Research

I know some people are very good at adapting their work but I think it would be an extremely risky thing to do for me – and in any case I want to get on with writing another novel!

The Guardian - Books

Many analytical techniques applied in materials science and other chemical/biological/physical disciplines may be applied to ENM analysis as well; however, environmental and biological studies may require that methods be adapted to work at low concentrations in complex matrices.

Duke University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at work" strictly as a location marker to indicate where the adaptation is happening, rather than what is being adapted.

Common error

Writers often mistakenly treat "at work" as the target of the verb "adapt". Ensure you specify what you are adapting to, such as a "new role" or "technology", before stating the location.

Linguistic Context

In most professional contexts analyzed by Ludwig, the phrase "adapt at work" functions as an incomplete verb phrase where "at work" serves as an adverbial of place. It is rarely used as a standalone idiomatic unit because the verb "adapt" typically requires a prepositional object (to something) to convey full meaning.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "adapt at work" is frequently flagged by Ludwig AI as grammatically incomplete. In standard English, the verb "adapt" should be followed by the preposition "to" and an object (e.g., "adapt to change"). While the search results show occurrences in reputable sources like Forbes and The Guardian, these are almost always cases where "at work" acts as a location modifier (where the adaptation happens) rather than the object of the verb. For professional writing, it is highly recommended to use "adapt to work" or "acclimate to work" to ensure clarity and grammatical precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adapt to work

Uses the correct preposition to indicate the object being adjusted to

adjust in the workplace

A more formal way to describe modifying behavior within a job setting

acclimate to work

Specifically refers to the process of getting used to a new professional environment

adapt to change at work

Specifies what is being adapted to while retaining the location

fit in at work

A more idiomatic and informal way to describe social adaptation

evolve professionally

Focuses on long-term growth and change rather than immediate adjustment

integrate into the team

Focuses on the social and collaborative aspect of professional adaptation

handle workplace transitions

Emphasizes the management of specific changes at the office

cope with job demands

Focuses on the emotional or psychological aspect of dealing with work

tailor one's work style

Describes specific modifications made to professional habits

FAQs

Is it correct to say "adapt at work"?

No, it is generally considered incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the correct expression is usually "adapt to work" or "adapt to change at work".

What is the difference between "adapt at work" and "adapt to work"?

"adapt to work" means you are adjusting yourself to the requirements of the job, while "adapt at work" incorrectly uses a location marker as an object.

How do I use adapt in a professional sentence?

You should use it with the preposition "to". For example: "She needed to "adapt to the new culture" at the office."

Can I say "adjust at work" instead?

Yes, "adjust at work" is slightly more acceptable as "adjust" can function as an intransitive verb, though "adjust to the workplace" is still clearer.