adopting

Verb

adopt (third-person singular simple present adopts, present participle adopting, simple past and past participle adopted)

1. (transitive) To take voluntarily (a child of other parents) to be in the place of, or as, one's own child.
   • A friend of mine recently adopted a Chinese baby girl found on the streets of Beijing.
2. (transitive) To obtain (a pet) from a shelter or the wild.
   • We're going to adopt a Dalmatian.
3. (transitive) To contribute towards the upkeep of (a child or animal), in exchange for occasional stories, pictures, etc.
   • We adopted an elephant at the local zoo.
4. (transitive) To take by choice into the scope of one's responsibility.
   • This supermarket chain adopts several families every Yuletide, providing them with money and groceries for the holidays.
5. (transitive) To take or receive as one's own what is not so naturally.
   • He adopted a new look in order to fit in with his new workmates.
6. (transitive) To select and take or approve.
   • to adopt the view or policy of another

   Synonyms:

   espouse, embrace

See all 7 meanings of adopt