Cool MateAccept vs Adopt
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Accept
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Adopt
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Most common: Accept
| Accept | Adopt | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əkˈsept/","/əkˈsepts/","/əkˈseptɪd/","/əkˈseptɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əkˈsept/","/əkˈsepts/","/əkˈseptɪd/","/əkˈseptɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈdɒpt/","/əˈdɒpts/","/əˈdɒptɪd/","/əˈdɒptɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈdɑːpt/","/əˈdɑːpts/","/əˈdɑːptɪd/","/əˈdɑːptɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To agree to receive something or to believe it is true. | To take something as your own, like a pet or idea. |
| Example | I am happy to accept your invitation to the party. | They decided to adopt a child from the local orphanage. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | eagerly, gladly, graciously, be glad to, be happy to, be reluctant to, from, happily, readily, fully, be happy to, be prepared to, be ready to, be commonly accepted, be generally accepted, be universally accepted, eagerly, gladly, graciously, be glad to, be happy to, be reluctant to, from, happily, readily, fully, be happy to, be prepared to, be ready to, be commonly accepted, be generally accepted, be universally accepted, happily, readily, fully, be happy to, be prepared to, be ready to, be commonly accepted, be generally accepted, be universally accepted | legally, have somebody adopted, formally, officially, tend to, decide to, be forced to, formally, officially, tend to, decide to, be forced to |
| Antonyms | reject, decline, refuse | reject, abandon |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'except' - remember 'accept' means to receive., Using 'accept' without an object - always specify what is being accepted., Mixing up 'accept' and 'admit' - 'accept' is about receiving, while 'admit' often implies recognition. | Using 'adopt' incorrectly by not following it with an object., Confusing 'adopt' with 'adapt'; they mean different things., Using 'adopt' in contexts where 'accept' or 'take on' might be better. |
| Usage notes | Used when someone agrees to something offered, like an invitation or a proposal. It's appropriate in both formal and casual contexts but may become less common in very informal speech. | Used when someone chooses to take on something new, like adopting a child or an animal. It’s not usually used in very formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Accept vs Adopt
What's the difference between Accept and Adopt?
Accept: To agree to receive something or to believe it is true. Adopt: To take something as your own, like a pet or idea.
Which is more common: Accept and Adopt?
Accept is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Accept and Adopt?
Adopt is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Accept and Adopt the same CEFR level?
Accept: A2, Adopt: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Accept and Adopt?
Accept: verb, Adopt: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Accept: I am happy to accept your invitation to the party. Adopt: They decided to adopt a child from the local orphanage.
Can I use Accept and Adopt interchangeably?
Not always. Accept and Adopt are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.