adopt a proposal

USAGE SUMMARY

"adopt a proposal" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to officially accept or approve a proposed plan or idea. Example: The board of directors will vote on whether to adopt the proposal for a new recycling program at next week's meeting. In this example, "adopt a proposal" is used to indicate that the board will decide whether to approve the proposed recycling program.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

The European Parliament is about to adopt a proposal that threatens the open Internet in the European Union.

Stanford University

Under governing law, an agency may not adopt a proposal to change a rule's effective date, but the directive suggested that agencies not seek public comment.

Cornell University

Once the County Legislature and the executive formally ask the state to adopt a proposal, the plan will go to Albany for approval.

The New York Times

On Jan . 31 Mr. Kenyatta convinced his peers in the African Union to adopt a proposal to consider withdrawing from the I.C.C.

The New York Times

Once, after the City Council approved a controversial mayoral initiative, Mr. Lynch was asked how he had persuaded council members to adopt a proposal that a month earlier was dead on arrival, but which passed with 10 votes to spare.

The New York Times

That regulation has stirred considerable debate in a number of nations, most recently in Canada where the opposition has criticized the Government of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney for failing to adopt a proposal similar to American law.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Per tax publisher RIA, "European Commission proposes tax on financial transactions: The European Commission, September 28, formally adopted a proposal for a bloc-wide financial transaction tax (FTT) that would be levied on all transactions between financial institutions that involve financial instruments where at least one party to the transaction is located in the EU.

Forbes

Eventually the framers resolved their disputes by adopting a proposal put forward by the Connecticut delegation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Liberal Democrats Emissions: The party has adopted a proposal make Britain carbon-neutral by 2050.

The Guardian

Last June after a relatively brief 18 months of negotiations, the European Parliament adopted a proposal for a revised PSI Directive.

Cornell University

Thus, in March 1998, the Commission adopted a proposal for a Directive to combat the problem of late payment.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, use "adopt a proposal" to clearly indicate the official acceptance of a suggested plan. For example, in meeting minutes or legal documents, this phrase leaves no room for ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using verbs like "adapt" or "adept" in place of "adopt". "Adopt" means to formally accept or approve, whereas "adapt" means to adjust, and "adept" describes skillfulness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "adopt a proposal" functions as a verb phrase, where 'adopt' is the transitive verb, 'a' is the article, and 'proposal' is the noun. It signifies the action of formally accepting or approving a specific plan or suggestion, as Ludwig AI confirms.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Formal & Business

35%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "adopt a proposal" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that signifies the formal acceptance of a plan or idea. As Ludwig AI points out, it's a common expression across a variety of contexts, especially in news, business, and academic writing. While alternatives like "approve a proposition" or "accept a recommendation" exist, "adopt a proposal" carries a weight of official endorsement. When using this phrase, be mindful of its formal tone and ensure it aligns with the overall context of your writing. Remember to avoid confusing "adopt" with similar-sounding words to maintain clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approve a proposition

Replaces "proposal" with "proposition", suggesting a formal statement or judgment.

accept a recommendation

Substitutes "proposal" with "recommendation", implying endorsement of advice.

ratify a suggestion

Replaces "adopt" with "ratify" and "proposal" with "suggestion", indicating formal consent or sanction.

endorse a plan

Substitutes "adopt" with "endorse" and "proposal" with "plan", emphasizing support for a course of action.

embrace an idea

Replaces "adopt" with "embrace" and "proposal" with "idea", suggesting enthusiastic acceptance.

sanction a scheme

Replaces "adopt" with "sanction" and "proposal" with "scheme", implying authorization of a project.

affirm a motion

Substitutes "adopt" with "affirm" and "proposal" with "motion", indicating formal declaration of validity.

pass a resolution

Replaces the whole phrase with action of formally approving a decision in assembly or committee.

vote in favor of a measure

Indicates the formal approval in an assembly or meeting.

give the green light to an initiative

Replaces the whole phrase with idiom that indicates permission to move forward with something.

FAQs

How can I use "adopt a proposal" in a sentence?

You can use "adopt a proposal" to indicate that a plan or idea has been formally accepted. For example, "The committee voted to adopt a proposal that would increase funding for local schools."

What's the difference between "approve a proposal" and "adopt a proposal"?

While both phrases mean to accept a plan, "adopt a proposal" often implies a more formal or official endorsement, whereas "approve a proposal" can be used in more general contexts.

What can I say instead of "adopt a proposal"?

You can use alternatives like "accept a recommendation", "endorse a plan", or "ratify a suggestion" depending on the context.

Is "adopt to a proposal" grammatically correct?

No, the correct phrasing is "adopt a proposal". The verb "adopt" does not require the preposition "to" in this context.