What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Approve vs Adopt - What's the difference?

approve | adopt |

In transitive terms the difference between approve and adopt

is that approve is to make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically while adopt is to select and take or approve.

approve

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) . Compare prove, approbate.

Verb

(approv)
  • To sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-08-10, volume=408, issue=8848, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Can China clean up fast enough? , passage=It has jailed environmental activists and is planning to limit the power of judicial oversight by handing a state-approved body a monopoly over bringing environmental lawsuits.}}
  • To regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of.
  • To make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically.
  • * (Ralph Waldo Emerson),
  • Opportunities to approve worth.
  • * (Thomas Babington Macaulay),
  • He had approved himself a great warrior.
  • * (George Gordon Byron),
  • 'T is an old lesson; Time approves it true.
  • * (Francis Parkman),
  • His accountapproves him a man of thought.
  • To consider or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance.
  • * (Henry Rogers),
  • The first care and concern must be to approve himself to God.
  • * (Thomas Babington Macaulay),
  • They had not approved of the deposition of James.
  • * (William Black),
  • They approved of the political institutions.
    Note: This word, when it signifies to be pleased with, to think favorably (of''), is often followed by ''of .
    Derived terms
    () * approval * approvable * I approve this message * approvably * approbation

    Etymology 2

    (etyl) aprouer; . Compare with improve.

    Verb

    (approv)
  • (English Law) To make profit of; to convert to one's own profit;—said especially of waste or common land appropriated by the lord of the manor.
  • References

    *

    adopt

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (with relationship specified) To take by choice into relationship, child, heir, friend, citizen, etc.
  • (with relationship implied by context) 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.
  • (with relationship implied by context) To obtain (a pet) from a shelter or the wild.
  • We're going to adopt a Dalmatian.
  • (with relationship implied by context) 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.
  • To take or receive as one's own what is not so naturally.(rfex)
  • * '>citation
  • To select and take or approve.
  • to adopt the view or policy of another
    These resolutions were adopted .