adopted

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "adopted" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone who has taken another's child as their own, such as in the sentence: "They adopted a baby girl from the local orphanage."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Film

Opinion

Lifestyle

Tech

Music

Global Development

Politics

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

While he has dismantled Niyazov's personality cult, he has maintained an authoritarian leadership style and has adopted the honorific title of arkadag – protector.

The Guardian

Amendments adopted in 2014, for example, give authorities the right to cut internet and mobile phone access without judicial review.

The Guardian

A blended learning model has been adopted which means all classes involve some form of online study.

The Guardian

Duke said he had been adopted at birth, and he recently returned to Moscow after living for a few years in the Midwest.

The Guardian

UN security council resolution 242, adopted in November 1967, called for the withdrawal of Israel's armed forces "from territories occupied in the recent conflict" and recognition of the right for all to live in peace "within secure and recognised boundaries free from threats or acts of force".

The Guardian

In 1939, she adopted a baby boy named Camillus.

The Guardian - Film

Oxford Brooks is the only university to have adopted the GPA system so far.

The Guardian

The Royal College of Nursing has opposed assisted suicide since 2004, but adopted a neutral stance yesterday after a recent consultation in which almost half (49%) of its members said they supported the policy, while two out of five (40%) said they were against it.

The Guardian

An American couple cleared by a Qatari appeals court of wrongdoing in the death of their eight-year-old adopted daughter but blocked from leaving the country held out hope on Monday that they would soon be allowed to leave the tiny Gulf nation, as a family representative blasted a continued travel ban against them as "institutional kidnapping".

The Guardian

This week, Nigerien legislators adopted a law calling for prison sentences of up to 30 years for smugglers of illegal immigrants in an attempt to stem the flow of migrants leaving Africa for Europe.

The Guardian

"As with some other major AAA-rated sovereigns, unless off-setting measures were adopted, the capacity of UK public finances to absorb adverse economic and financial shocks that would result in yet higher public debt while retaining its 'AAA' status has largely been exhausted," it said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "adopted" to describe the acceptance of a new law or policy, ensure the subject clearly indicates the governing body or institution responsible for the adoption.

Common error

Avoid using "adopted" when "adapted" is more appropriate. "Adopted" implies acceptance or taking something as one's own, while "adapted" signifies modifying something to suit a new purpose or condition.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "adopted" is as the past participle of the verb "adopt". It's commonly used to describe actions that have been completed, such as a child being legally taken into a new family, or a policy being formally approved. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Opinion

10%

Film

8%

Less common in

Politics

5%

Global Development

5%

Lifestyle

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "adopted" serves as the past participle form of "adopt", signifying the completion of an action like legally taking in a child or formally accepting a policy. As Ludwig AI highlights, its grammatical correctness and versatility make it suitable across various registers, primarily within news and media, but also in opinion pieces and film. When writing, remember to differentiate "adopted" from "adapted" to maintain clarity and precision. Use alternatives like "embraced" or "implemented" to enhance your writing with more contextual precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

embraced

Focuses on willingly accepting or supporting a belief, idea or change.

implemented

Highlights the action of putting a plan or system into effect.

assumed

Emphasizes taking on a responsibility, role, or characteristic.

accepted

Implies agreement or approval to something.

endorsed

Suggests publicly declaring support or approval.

taken on

Signifies assuming a responsibility or task.

followed

Highlights adhering to a set of rules or guidelines.

chosen

Emphasizes making a decision or selection.

legislated

Refers specifically to the enactment of laws.

domesticated

Specifically refers to taming an animal or adapting a plant for human use.

FAQs

How is "adopted" used in a sentence?

The word "adopted" typically indicates that someone has legally taken a child as their own, or that a group has formally accepted a new law or policy. For instance, "They "adopted" a child from overseas" or "The committee "adopted" the new guidelines".

What's a good alternative to the word "adopted" when referring to ideas or policies?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "embraced", "implemented", or "endorsed" for ideas and policies.

When is it appropriate to use "adopted" versus "adapted"?

"Adopted" implies taking something and making it one's own, such as "adopting" a child or a policy. "Adapted", on the other hand, suggests modifying something to suit a particular purpose, such as "adapting" a book for film.

Is there a difference between saying a child is "adopted" and "was adopted by"?

While both phrases are grammatically correct, "adopted" is often preferred for brevity. "Was adopted by" may be used to emphasize the adopting family or to provide additional context, but the core meaning remains the same.