1. (

• adopt ,
• follow ,
• espouse

) choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans; "She followed the feminist movement"; "The candidate espouses Republican ideals" ;

2. (

• adopt ,
• borrow ,
• take_over ,
• take_up

) take up and practice as one's own ;

3. (

• assume ,
• adopt ,
• take_on ,
• take_over ,

) take on titles, offices, duties, responsibilities; "When will the new President assume office?" ;

4. (

• assume ,
• acquire ,
• adopt ,
• take_on ,
• take ,

) take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect; "His voice took on a sad tone"; "The story took a new turn"; "he adopted an air of superiority"; "She assumed strange manners"; "The gods assume human or animal form in these fables" ;

5. (

• adopt ,
• take_in ,

) take into one's family; "They adopted two children from Nicaragua" ;

6. (

• dramatize ,
• dramatise ,
• adopt

) put into dramatic form; "adopt a book for a screenplay" ;

7. (

• espouse ,
• embrace ,
• adopt ,
• sweep_up

) take up the cause, ideology, practice, method, of someone and use it as one's own; "She embraced Catholicism"; "They adopted the Jewish faith" ;

1. (

• adopted ,
• adoptive ,

) acquired as your own by free choice; "my adopted state"; "an adoptive country" ;